The labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in Costa Rica saw no significant changes in 2022 in comparison to the previous year 2021 and remained at around 68.32 percent. However, 2022 marked the second consecutive increase of the labor participation rate. The labor force participation rate is the share of the population aged 15 and over who are currently employed or actively searching for work. It is calculated by dividing the economically active population aged 15 and over by the total population aged 15 and over.Find more key insights for the labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in countries like Nicaragua and Panama.

Wages in Costa Rica increased to 789033.40 CRC/Month in November from 757591.10 CRC/Month in October of 2024. This dataset provides - Costa Rica Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Costa Rica CR: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: Aged 15-24 data was reported at 42.800 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 48.352 % for 2022. Costa Rica CR: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 61.091 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 73.809 % in 1990 and a record low of 42.800 % in 2023. Costa Rica CR: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.;International Labour Organization. “ILO Modelled Estimates and Projections database (ILOEST)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Costa Rica is the country with the highest minimum monthly wage in Latin America. According to the minimum salary established by law as of January 2024, workers in the Central American country enjoy a basic monthly wage of over 687 U.S. dollars, an increase of 1.83 percent compared to the previous year and over 100 U.S. dollars more than the second place, Uruguay. On the other side of the spectrum is Venezuela, where employees are only guaranteed by law a minimum salary of 130 bolívares or little more than three dollars per month. Can Latin Americans survive on a minimum wage? Even if most countries in Latin America have instated laws to guarantee citizens a basic income, these minimum standards are often not enough to meet household needs. For instance, it was estimated that almost 25 million people in Mexico lacked basic housing services. Salary levels also vary greatly among Latin American economies. In 2020, the average net monthly salary in Mexico was barely higher than Chile's minimum wage in 2021. What can a minimum wage afford in Latin America? Latin American real wages have generally risen in the past decade. However, consumers in this region still struggle to afford non-basic goods, such as tech products. Recent estimates reveal that, in order to buy an iPhone, Brazilian residents would have to work at least two months to be able to pay for it. A gaming console, on the other hand, could easily cost a Latin American worker several minimum wages.

Costa Rica CR: Wages Index data was reported at 137.895 2010=100 in Dec 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 137.895 2010=100 for Nov 2017. Costa Rica CR: Wages Index data is updated monthly, averaging 88.508 2010=100 from Jan 2000 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 216 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 137.895 2010=100 in Feb 2017 and a record low of 34.423 2010=100 in Jun 2000. Costa Rica CR: Wages Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.IMF.IFS: Wages, Labour Cost and Employment Index.

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Arbejdsstyrkens deltagelsesgrad i Costa Rica faldt til 56,70 procent i fjerde kvartal 2024 fra 57,30 procent i tredje kvartal 2024.

The unemployment rate in Costa Rica was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 0.7 percentage points. The rate is estimated to amount to nine percent in 2029. This indicator describes the unemployment rate which can be defined by either the national definition, the ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition. The latter defines it as the number of unemployed people divided by the total labour force.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like Belize, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Costa Rica CR: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data was reported at 43.862 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 50.080 % for 2022. Costa Rica CR: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 44.583 % from Dec 1963 (Median) to 2023, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.513 % in 2019 and a record low of 17.530 % in 1963. Costa Rica CR: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.;International Labour Organization. “Labour Force Statistics database (LFS)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Abstract

This research was conducted in Costa Rica between July 2010 and June 2011 as part of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Enterprise Survey 2010, an initiative of the World Bank. Data from 538 establishments was analyzed. Stratified random sampling was used to select the surveyed businesses.

The objective of the study is to obtain feedback from enterprises in client countries on the state of the private sector as well as to help in building a panel of enterprise data that will make it possible to track changes in the business environment over time, thus allowing, for example, impact assessments of reforms. Through face-to-face interviews with firms in the manufacturing and services sectors, the survey assesses the constraints to private sector growth and creates statistically significant business environment indicators that are comparable across countries.

The standard Enterprise Survey topics include firm characteristics, gender participation, access to finance, annual sales, costs of inputs/labor, workforce composition, bribery, licensing, infrastructure, trade, crime, competition, capacity utilization, land and permits, taxation, informality, business-government relations, innovation and technology, and performance measures. Over 90% of the questions objectively ascertain characteristics of a country’s business environment. The remaining questions assess the survey respondents’ opinions on what are the obstacles to firm growth and performance.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

The primary sampling unit of the study is the establishment. An establishment is a physical location where business is carried out and where industrial operations take place or services are provided. A firm may be composed of one or more establishments. For example, a brewery may have several bottling plants and several establishments for distribution. For the purposes of this survey an establishment must make its own financial decisions and have its own financial statements separate from those of the firm. An establishment must also have its own management and control over its payroll.

Universe

The whole population, or the universe, covered in the Enterprise Surveys is the non-agricultural economy. It comprises: all manufacturing sectors according to the ISIC Revision 3.1 group classification (group D), construction sector (group F), services sector (groups G and H), and transport, storage, and communications sector (group I). Note that this population definition excludes the following sectors: financial intermediation (group J), real estate and renting activities (group K, except sub-sector 72, IT, which was added to the population under study), and all public or utilities sectors.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The study was conducted using stratified random sampling. Three levels of stratification were used in the sample: firm sector, firm size, and geographic region.

Industry stratification was designed in the way that follows: the universe was stratified into three manufacturing industries (ISIC codes 15, 26-29, and Other Manufacturing), two service industry (retail and hotels/restaurants), and one residual services sector. Each of the manufacturing industries and the retail sector had a target of 120 interviews. Hotels, restaurants and other services had a target of 60 interviews each.

Size stratification was defined following the standardized definition for the Enterprise Surveys: small (5 to 19 employees), medium (20 to 99 employees), and large (more than 99 employees). For stratification purposes, the number of employees was defined on the basis of reported permanent full-time workers. This seems to be an appropriate definition of the labor force since seasonal/casual/part-time employment is not a common practice, except in the sectors of construction and agriculture.

Regional stratification was defined in two locations (city and the surrounding business area): San Jose and Central Valley and the rest of the country.

For Costa Rica, two sample frames were used. The first was supplied by the World Bank and consists of enterprises interviewed in Costa Rica in 2006. The World Bank required that attempts should be made to re-interview establishments responding to the Costa Rica 2006 survey where they were within the selected geographical locations and met eligibility criteria. That sample is referred to as the Panel. The second sample frame was produced from the Census of businesses and commercial establishments from 2010 created by the National Institute of Statistics (INEC).

The two sample frames were then used to get a sample of 600 establishments with five or more employees.

The quality of the frame was assessed at the outset of the project through visits to a random subset of firms and local contractor knowledge. The sample frame was not immune from the typical problems found in establishment surveys: positive rates of non-eligibility, repetition, non-existent units, etc. In addition, the sample frame contains no telephone/fax numbers so the local contractor had to screen the contacts by visiting them. Due to response rate and ineligibility issues, additional sample had to be extracted by the World Bank in order to obtain enough eligible contacts and meet the sample targets.

Given the impact that non-eligible units included in the sample universe may have on the results, adjustments may be needed when computing the appropriate weights for individual observations. The percentage of confirmed non-eligible units as a proportion of the total number of sampled establishments contacted for the survey was 5.69% (88 out of 1546 establishments).

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The current survey instruments are available: - Core Questionnaire [ISIC Rev.3.1: 45, 50, 51, 52, 55, 60-64, 72]; - Core Questionnaire + Manufacturing Module [ISIC Rev.3.1: 15-37]; - Core Questionnaire + Retail Module [ISIC Rev.3.1: 52]; - Screener Questionnaire.

The "Core Questionnaire" is the heart of the Enterprise Survey and contains the survey questions asked of all firms across the world. There are also two other survey instruments - the "Core Questionnaire + Manufacturing Module" and the "Core Questionnaire + Retail Module." The survey is fielded via three instruments in order to not ask questions that are irrelevant to specific types of firms, e.g. a question that relates to production and nonproduction workers should not be asked of a retail firm. In addition to questions that are asked across countries, all surveys are customized and contain country-specific questions. An example of customization would be including tourism-related questions that are asked in certain countries when tourism is an existing or potential sector of economic growth.

The standard Enterprise Survey topics include firm characteristics, gender participation, access to finance, annual sales, costs of inputs/labor, workforce composition, bribery, licensing, infrastructure, trade, crime, competition, capacity utilization, land and permits, taxation, informality, business-government relations, innovation and technology, and performance measures. The questionnaire also assesses the survey respondents' opinions on what are the obstacles to firm growth and performance.

Cleaning operations

Data entry and quality controls are implemented by the contractor and data is delivered to the World Bank in batches (typically 10%, 50% and 100%). These data deliveries are checked for logical consistency, out of range values, skip patterns, and duplicate entries. Problems are flagged by the World Bank and corrected by the implementing contractor through data checks, callbacks, and revisiting establishments.

Response rate

The number of realized interviews per contacted establishment was 0.35. The estimate is based on the total number of firms contacted including ineligible establishments. This number is the result of two factors: explicit refusals to participate in the survey, as reflected by the rate of rejection (which includes rejections of the screener and the main survey) and the quality of the sample frame, as represented by the presence of ineligible units. The number of rejections per contact was 0.45.

Complete information regarding the sampling methodology, sample frame, weights, response rates, and implementation can be found in "Description of Costa Rica ES 2010 Implementation" in external resources.

In 2020, the share of total labor force working for the armed forces in Costa Rica increased by 0.02 percentage points (+5.13 percent) compared to 2019. In total, the share amounted to 0.41 percent in 2020. This increase was preceded by a declining share.Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces. This indicator is presented as a share of the labor force, which consists of all people who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.

In 2022, the labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in Panama remained nearly unchanged at around 67.59 percent. However, 2022 marked the second consecutive increase of the labor participation rate. The labor force participation rate is the share of people aged 15 and over who are economically active (i.e. employed or actively searching for work). It is calculated by dividing the economically active population aged 15 and over by the total population aged 15 and over.Find more key insights for the labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in countries like Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

As of 2023, Honduras registered the highest unemployment rate in Central America with 8.08 percent, followed by Panama and Costa Rica, both with figures around seven percent. This indicator describes the unemployment rate which can be defined by either the national definition, the ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition. The latter defines it as the number of unemployed people divided by the total labour force.

Uruguay was the Latin American country with the highest average monthly salary as of 2024, with a net value of around 1,088 U.S. dollars per month, followed by Costa Rica, with 947 U.S. dollars per month. Employment development areas in Latin America Following the recuperation in this sector after the job losses endured throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate persists in its endeavor to stabilize. Informal employment remains as the predominant actor across most Latin American countries, serving as a primary avenue for economic sustenance. Notably, the construction sector has experienced substantial growth, outpacing other relevant industries like tourism and hospitality. Poverty Throughout the past two decades, poverty levels in Latin America remain unchanged. Honduras takes the lead as the country bearing the highest poverty rate, with nearly half of its population dwelling in these circumstances. Across the region, the prevalent delineation is that of individuals classified within the non-extreme and lower-middle poverty strata, characterized by modest income levels.

Costa Rica CR: Wages Index: % Change over Previous Period data was reported at 0.000 % in Dec 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for Sep 2017. Costa Rica CR: Wages Index: % Change over Previous Period data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.000 % from Jun 2000 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 71 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.731 % in Sep 2008 and a record low of 0.000 % in Dec 2017. Costa Rica CR: Wages Index: % Change over Previous Period data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.IMF.IFS: Wages, Labour Cost and Employment Index: Quarterly.

Costa Rica CR: Unemployment Rate: Harmonised: sa: Total: Aged 15-24 data was reported at 21.472 % in Oct 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22.416 % for Sep 2024. Costa Rica CR: Unemployment Rate: Harmonised: sa: Total: Aged 15-24 data is updated monthly, averaging 23.987 % from Aug 2010 (Median) to Oct 2024, with 171 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.044 % in Sep 2020 and a record low of 20.282 % in Apr 2017. Costa Rica CR: Unemployment Rate: Harmonised: sa: Total: Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.OECD.MEI: Harmonised Unemployment and Unemployment Rate: Seasonally Adjusted: OECD Member. [STAT_CONC_DEF] Employment data from the ECE refer to persons in the labor force who participated in the production of goods and economic services (worked) for at least one hour during the reference week.It also includes those persons who, although they have a job, did not work during the reference week, because of some special circumstances (strike, illness or injury, lack of materials or clients, bad weather, etc.), and the period of inactivity did not exceed one month. Unemployment data from the ECE refer to persons in the labor force who had no employment during the reference week, were available to participate in the production of goods and economic services immediately (within the next two weeks) and had sought employment but did not find it, even though they took specific measures in order to find it during the previous four weeks.Besides, unemployed persons are those who had no employment in the reference week, were available for work and did not seek it due to special situations such as the following:- They already got a job and are waiting to start in the coming days.- They are waiting for the resumption of operations from a temporarily disrupted activity, which downtime is less than one month.- They are waiting a response from previous job search efforts.

Costa Rica CR: Unemployment Rate: Harmonised: Female: Aged 15-24 data was reported at 23.929 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.215 % for 2023. Costa Rica CR: Unemployment Rate: Harmonised: Female: Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 30.187 % from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2024, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.911 % in 2020 and a record low of 23.929 % in 2024. Costa Rica CR: Unemployment Rate: Harmonised: Female: Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.OECD.MEI: Harmonised Unemployment and Unemployment Rate: OECD Member: Annual. [STAT_CONC_DEF] Employment data from the ECE refer to persons in the labor force who participated in the production of goods and economic services (worked) for at least one hour during the reference week.It also includes those persons who, although they have a job, did not work during the reference week, because of some special circumstances (strike, illness or injury, lack of materials or clients, bad weather, etc.), and the period of inactivity did not exceed one month. Unemployment data from the ECE refer to persons in the labor force who had no employment during the reference week, were available to participate in the production of goods and economic services immediately (within the next two weeks) and had sought employment but did not find it, even though they took specific measures in order to find it during the previous four weeks.Besides, unemployed persons are those who had no employment in the reference week, were available for work and did not seek it due to special situations such as the following:- They already got a job and are waiting to start in the coming days.- They are waiting for the resumption of operations from a temporarily disrupted activity, which downtime is less than one month.- They are waiting a response from previous job search efforts.

Costa Rica CR: Employment Rate: Total: Aged 15-24 data was reported at 28.397 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.518 % for 2022. Costa Rica CR: Employment Rate: Total: Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 33.616 % from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2023, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.178 % in 2013 and a record low of 25.775 % in 2020. Costa Rica CR: Employment Rate: Total: Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.OECD.MEI: Employment and Employment Rate: OECD Member: Annual. [STAT_CONC_DEF] Employment data from the ECE refer to persons in the labor force who participated in the production of goods and economic services (worked) for at least one hour during the reference week.It also includes those persons who, although they have a job, did not work during the reference week, because of some special circumstances (strike, illness or injury, lack of materials or clients, bad weather, etc.), and the period of inactivity did not exceed one month. Unemployment data from the ECE refer to persons in the labor force who had no employment during the reference week, were available to participate in the production of goods and economic services immediately (within the next two weeks) and had sought employment but did not find it, even though they took specific measures in order to find it during the previous four weeks.Besides, unemployed persons are those who had no employment in the reference week, were available for work and did not seek it due to special situations such as the following:- They already got a job and are waiting to start in the coming days.- They are waiting for the resumption of operations from a temporarily disrupted activity, which downtime is less than one month.- They are waiting a response from previous job search efforts.

Costa Rica Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Aged 40-44 data was reported at 80.204 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 82.086 % for 2023. Costa Rica Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Aged 40-44 data is updated yearly, averaging 77.420 % from Dec 1973 (Median) to 2024, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83.801 % in 2019 and a record low of 57.200 % in 1973. Costa Rica Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Aged 40-44 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Labour Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.ILO.LFS: Labour Force Participation Rate: By Sex and Age: Annual.

Costa Rica Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Aggregate Bands: Aged 15-24 data was reported at 32.680 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 36.690 % for 2022. Costa Rica Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Aggregate Bands: Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 36.624 % from Dec 1973 (Median) to 2023, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40.512 % in 2021 and a record low of 21.980 % in 1984. Costa Rica Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Aggregate Bands: Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Labour Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.ILO.LFS: Labour Force Participation Rate: By Sex and Age: Annual.