Colón unemployment rate declining, Panama's Labor Minister says

The unemployment rate in Panama's Colón province has seen a gradual decline, according to Minister of Labor and Professional Development Jackeline Muñoz. She indicated that the government anticipates updated official figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) next month. Current data from the Ministry of Labor and Professional Development (Mitradel) places the unemployment rate in Colón at 12%. "That figure has been falling," Muñoz stated.

Muñoz highlighted the "Panamá para Ti" program, an initiative spearheaded by President José Raúl Mulino, which aims to stimulate the creation of 80,000 formal job positions. This program relies on the active participation of the private sector across key industries such as construction, tourism, and agriculture. The strategy is designed as an inter-institutional effort, integrating public works projects, educational development, and other employment-generating initiatives.

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That figure has been falling. We expect that next month we can have the official figure from the INEC.

These remarks were made during the official granting of legal status to the Cooperative of Multiple Services of Crafts and Dressmaking of Colón (Coamco). This event is part of the broader "Panamá para Ti" program. The minister explained that formalizing Coamco will empower its members to engage in productive activities and generate income. The program also includes targeted recruitment drives to help individuals access job opportunities and provides training for those seeking their first employment in Colón.

The government's focus on Colón aims to revitalize the province's economy through strategic investments and job creation. By fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors and supporting local cooperatives, the administration seeks to address unemployment and promote economic growth in the region.

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It is an inter-institutional program that includes everything related to public works, educational development, and everything else for the generation of employment.