Chile Unemployment Rate Falls in September

Chile’s unemployment rate fell to 8.5% in the July–September quarter, down 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier and in line with expectations. The labor force grew 1.2%, slightly below the 1.5% increase in employment. The number of unemployed people declined 1.3%, amid a 1.4% drop in jobseekers, while first-time jobseekers remained unchanged. Among women, unemployment stood at 9.1%, down 0.1 point, as both labor force participation and employment rose 1.3% and 1.4%, respectively. Female unemployment fell 0.2% amid a 0.4% drop in jobseekers. For men, the jobless rate declined 0.3 points to 8.1%, as the labor force grew 1.2% and employment increased 1.5%, leading to a 2.1% drop in unemployment.