Dominican employment reaches 5.2 million workers in early 2026
Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s labor market continued to show steady growth during the first quarter of 2026, with total employment reaching 5,236,178 workers, according to data from the National Continuous Labor Force Survey (ENCFT). Of that figure, 2,403,395 jobs corresponded to the formal sector, consistent with records from the Social Security Treasury.
Compared to the same period in 2025, the economy added 118,631 net new jobs, representing year-on-year employment growth of 2.3%. The employment rate reached 63.0%, while the labor force participation rate stood at 66.3%, both remaining near historic highs and reflecting strong labor market participation within the regional context.
The report showed that informal employment continued to account for most job creation over the past year. Of the new positions generated, 98,127 jobs came from the informal sector, representing 82.7% of total new employment, while formal employment contributed 20,504 additional jobs. As a result, the national informality rate stood at 54.1%, remaining below the historical average recorded since 2014.
Women played a significant role in labor market growth during the period. Of the total employed population, 43.9% were women, and female employment increased by 157,078 workers over the last 12 months, accounting for much of the new job creation nationwide.
Meanwhile, unemployment indicators remained relatively stable. The open unemployment rate stood at 5.0% during January-March 2026, while the broader labor underutilization rate declined to 8.8%, down from 9.3% during the same period last year.
The inactive population — people of working age who are neither employed nor actively seeking work — reached 2.8 million individuals, representing 33.7% of the population, slightly lower than in 2025.
Despite global economic uncertainty linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, rising transportation costs, and fluctuating commodity prices, the Dominican labor market maintained low unemployment levels and continued employment expansion during the first quarter of 2026.
