While the Government celebrates the financial summer, concern about employment is growing among workers. Indec published this Wednesday that the unemployment rate reached 6.9% in the third quarter of 2024. This data represents an interannual increase of 1.2 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023, when 5.7% was recorded. .
All indicators worsened compared to last year. There are more workers looking for work, which was expressed in a higher activity rate, 48.3% compared to 48.2% in the third quarter of 2023, and the employment rate fell 0.5 points. Therefore the result was an increase in unemployment. At the same time, underemployment increased from 10.3% to 11.4% and the pressure on labor demand reaches 35.9%. That is, the sum between unemployment, underemployment and employed job seekers reaches more than one in three active workers.
Although a decrease is reported compared to the second quarter (when unemployment was 7.6%), a large part of the employment generated corresponds to precarious forms of work. Among wage earners, the unregistered employment rate affects 36.7%. This implies jobs without rights, without contributions to social work, retirement discounts or labor rights. But it is not the only dimension of precariousness; outsourced workers, with low salaries, long working hours or the need to work more than 2 jobs to make ends meet must be added to this. 23.3% of workers are self-employed.
#DatoINDEC
The activity, employment and unemployment rates were 48.3%, 45% and 6.9% in the 3rd quarter of 2024, respectively https://t.co/CVtfOn1xKk pic.twitter.com/tOaUeyFQLQ— INDEC Argentina (@INDECArgentina) December 18, 2024
Job insecurity in Argentina does not arise from nowhere. It is the result of economic policies that have prioritized flexibility and cost reduction for companies, to the detriment of the quality of employment. The increase in unregistered work is a reflection of this trend. This context of extreme precariousness has a differential impact on women and young people, who suffer higher rates of informal employment and cuts in their labor rights. For young women up to 29 years old, the unemployment rate rose to 24.8%
In the face of attacks from the government and businessmen, a forceful response from workers is necessary. To defend employment, it is possible with the resources and productive apparatus available to reduce the working day and distribute the existing working hours, which would allow the creation of new jobs. But also, generate a plan for housing and public works and development in strategic sectors with a project that respects the environment.
The Left Front presented a bill for the reduction of working hours and the distribution of working hours in the 12 thousand main companies. With 6-hour days and 5 days a week, 1 million 200 thousand new jobs could be generated, with a salary that covers the family basket.
These measures seek not only to alleviate the most serious effects of precariousness, but also to improve the living conditions of all workers. In a context where the increase in unemployment and informality are part of the Government’s economic plan, a structural change is urgently needed that puts the rights of the working class at the center of the debate.
Source: www.laizquierdadiario.com
