Evolución de las principales variables del mercado laboral uruguayo (2016-2022)

This paper analyses the evolution of the main variables of the Uruguayan labour market from 2016 to 2022, a period marked by economic challenges. It shows initial growth with a slowdown and a sharp contraction in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, labor market indicators have worsened since 2016 and continued to do so after 2019. As of 2021, the economy showed improvements in labor market indicators. During this period, the labour force participation rate declined, especially for men and the less educated. Labour demand decreased, and although it began to recover in 2021, it did not reach pre-pandemic levels Unemployment increased, affecting men and women, young and old, with a deteriorating labour market, but reached pre-2020 levels in 2022. Employment formality is stabilising at a lower level than in 2016, and this study essay some hypotheses associated with this phenomenon. Real wages stagnated and then declined, impacting both formal and informal workers. In sum, the Uruguayan labour market faced difficulties during this period, including the pandemic, which negatively affected labour market indicators, especially labour income.