The urban unemployment rate is higher than that for the same period last year and is also higher than that registered during previous periods of general recession such as the foreign debt crisis, the Mexican devaluation and the Asian crisis. The perspectives are not flattering as, according to the report, "the total urban unemployed will rise to 9.8 per cent, the worst in the region for 30 years. This represents about 18 million people".
The table on urban unemployment rates in the report shows that, for the 12 countries reviewed in the first three quarters of 2002 compared to the same period in 2001, unemployment has risen in Argentina (from 16.4 per cent to 21.5 per cent), Brazil (from 6.2 per cent to 7.3 per cent), Costa Rica (from 6.1 per cent to 6.8 per cent), Mexico (from 2.4 per cent to 2.8 per cent), Peru (from 9.4 per cent to 9.7 per cent), Uruguay (from 15.4 per cent to 16.5 per cent and Venezuela (from 13.9 per cent to 15.5 per cent), while it has decreased in Ecuador (by 2.1 per cent), Colombia (by 0.6 per cent), El Salvador (by 0.8 per cent), Panama (by 0.5 per cent) and Chile (by 0.2 per cent).
The table on urban unemployment rates in the report shows that, for the 12 countries reviewed in the first three quarters of 2002 compared to the same period in 2001, unemployment has risen in Argentina (from 16.4 per cent to 21.5 per cent), Brazil (from 6.2 per cent to 7.3 per cent), Costa Rica (from 6.1 per cent to 6.8 per cent), Mexico (from 2.4 per cent to 2.8 per cent), Peru (from 9.4 per cent to 9.7 per cent), Uruguay (from 15.4 per cent to 16.5 per cent and Venezuela (from 13.9 per cent to 15.5 per cent), while it has decreased in Ecuador (by 2.1 per cent), Colombia (by 0.6 per cent), El Salvador (by 0.8 per cent), Panama (by 0.5 per cent) and Chile (by 0.2 per cent).