---
title: "About 96,000 Young Panamanians Unemployed; Many Turn to Occasional Work"
date: 2026-03-16
modified: 2026-03-17
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/2026/03/16/youth-unemployment-panama-2026/
categories:
  - "Economy"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "employment"
  - "informal work"
  - "labor market"
  - "Panama"
  - "youth unemployment"
---

# About 96,000 Young Panamanians Unemployed; Many Turn to Occasional Work

## What Happened

Telemetro reported that approximately 96,000 young people in Panama are currently unemployed, representing a youth unemployment rate estimated between 17.8% and 19.9%. The report notes that many of these young people are turning to occasional or informal work in the absence of formal employment opportunities.

## Background

Youth unemployment is a longstanding challenge in many countries, and Panama is no exception. The Telemetro figures highlight a significant portion of the country’s younger population that is either seeking work without success or participating in intermittent, non-permanent activities to earn a living. The numbers provided indicate a substantial cohort of young people who are not captured by stable wage employment.

## Who Is Affected

The figures published by Telemetro point to youth across Panama who face barriers to entering the formal labor market. While the report does not break down the data by province, sector, education level, or gender, the broad estimate—between 17.8% and 19.9%—suggests the issue affects a sizeable share of the young workforce nationwide.

## What This Means

High youth unemployment can have several implications. Young people working in occasional or informal jobs typically lack benefits, job security, and opportunities for skills development and career advancement. Prolonged unemployment or underemployment early in a worker’s life may also affect future earnings and economic stability.

For policymakers and employers, the Telemetro numbers underscore a need to consider measures that improve access to stable jobs, vocational training, and pathways from education to employment. For the economy, bringing more young people into formal, productive employment could help broaden the tax base and support longer-term growth.

## Next Steps and Context

The Telemetro report provides a snapshot of the current youth unemployment situation in Panama but does not detail government actions or responses. Further data—such as regional breakdowns, trends over time, and information on underemployment—would help to clarify the scope and drivers of the problem and to inform targeted policy responses.