Unemployment rate decreased from 13.3% to 6.6%, according to INEC

The unemployment rate  in Ecuador, as of September 2020, stood at 6.6%, that is, a lower percentage than that registered in June of the same year, when the country was living in the midst of the health emergency due to the covid pandemic. -19. At that time the percentage figures were 13.3%.

Unemployment rate decreased from 13.3% to 6.6%, according to INEC

This is established in the latest report of the National Survey of Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment (Enemdu) , prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) and which was reported this Thursday, October 15, by the executive director, Diego Andrade.

According to the official, the results of the survey carried out by telephone indicate aspects such as a variation in the unemployment situation ; In this sense, he indicated that in June the index showed around 1 million people without employment, however, the figure from last September indicates that at least 523,000 people were in that situation.

However, this figure is still considerable if this index is compared with the same month of the previous year. There is an increase of 1.7%, which means that at least 115,749 Ecuadorians were unemployed.

Regarding adequate employment , the survey reveals that there was an increase , that is, from the 16.7% registered in June, the percentage rose by 32.1% in September, which is equivalent to 1,254,836 Ecuadorians they have a stable job, with legal benefits.

Regarding underemployment , this index fell, since from 34.7% in June, it is now 23.4% in September, which means that 780,541 people left informality ; while unpaid employment increased from 7.7% to 10.8%.

For the Minister of Labor, Andrés Isch , although the figures show significant progress in the labor market in the last three months, the indexes still need to be improved and this will become evident if the implemented policies are maintained.

He stressed that the improvement in the figures is due to the fact that the economy began to reactivate, especially in the construction sector , as well as agricultural and commercial activities ; Added to this is the implementation of the Humanitarian Law .

Isch also indicated that the extension of the contract for a specific work or service within the business line allowed entrepreneurs to start projects and generate new quality jobs. So far, 10,000 Ecuadorians have found work under this modality.

In addition, he explained that new contractual modalities will be proposed that generate opportunities and adequate conditions for workers and that the Government will continue to promote fair labor relations that allow preserving, promoting and generating more employment opportunities in the country. (I)