After the fiscal deficit, unemployment is the second, most serious problem that Costa Rican economy is facing.
According to Employment Continuous Survey released by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), this figure reached 9.4% in the second trimester of the year. However, the government hasn’t planned any measures to solve this problem.
There is no single solution,
declared economist Edna Camacho.
She reiterated that the economy must grow so that it can absorb the workforce. Camacho also stressed that bills that could help to reduce unemployment have not been promoted.
According to economist Greivin Hernández González, there is a precarious employment situation and this is due to a reduction of the economically active population. However, he recognized that trade, communication and other services are creating new jobs.
The economist also stated that Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) contributions to reduce unemployment is limited.
In addition, economist Melvin Garita affirmed that one of the weaknesses of this structural problem is that there are 46 programs aimed to reduce poverty, but they haven’t had the effect wanted because in most cases they are rejected due to their medium-term nature, however, they are the only alternative to address the problem.
President of the Republic Luis Guillermo Solís acdmitted that is a great concern but he added that none of the administrations of the past 20 years has been able to reduce unemployment.
Minister of Labour Carlos Alvarado declared that although the reduction of the informal sector and underemployment report positive figures, effort to create more jobs as well as efforts to reduce schools dropouts should increase.