Highest Unemployment in El Salvador

Top 74 cities ranked by highest unemployment

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · El Salvador

Highest Unemployment — El Salvador

1 Izalco 13 3.3%

2 Antiguo Cuscatlán 05 3.3%

3 Chalchuapa 11 3.3%

4 Quezaltepeque 05 3.3%

5 La Unión 07 3.3%

6 Ayutuxtepeque 10 3.3%

7 Acajutla 13 3.3%

8 Aguilares 10 3.3%

9 Sensuntepeque 02 3.3%

10 Chalatenango 03 3.3%

11 Ahuachapán 01 3.3%

12 Metapán 11 3.3%

13 San Rafael Oriente 09 3.3%

14 Puerto El Triunfo 14 3.3%

15 La Libertad 05 3.3%

16 San Francisco 08 3.3%

17 Sonzacate 13 3.3%

18 Santiago de María 14 3.3%

19 Armenia 13 3.3%

20 Sonsonate 13 3.3%

21 San Salvador 10 3.3%

22 Soyapango 10 3.3%

23 San Miguel 09 3.3%

24 Santa Ana 11 3.3%

25 Mejicanos 10 3.3%

26 Santa Tecla 05 3.3%

27 Apopa 10 3.3%

28 Delgado 10 3.3%

29 Santo Tomás 10 3.3%

30 San Marcos 10 3.3%

31 Usulután 14 3.3%

32 Cojutepeque 04 3.3%

33 Cuscatancingo 10 3.3%

34 San Vicente 12 3.3%

35 Zacatecoluca 06 3.3%

36 San Martín 04 3.3%

37 Ilopango 10 3.3%

38 Santa Elena 14 3.3%

39 Nahuizalco 13 3.3%

40 San Sebastián 12 3.3%

41 San Juan Opico 05 3.3%

42 Panchimalco 10 3.3%

43 Nuevo Cuscatlán 05 3.3%

44 Chirilagua 09 3.3%

45 Olocuilta 06 3.3%

46 Candelaria de La Frontera 11 3.3%

47 Tonacatepeque 10 3.3%

48 Concepción de Ataco 01 3.3%

49 Nueva Guadalupe 09 3.3%

50 Apastepeque 12 3.3%

51 Coatepeque 11 3.3%

52 Suchitoto 04 3.3%

53 El Rosario 06 3.3%

54 Guatajiagua 08 3.3%

55 Rosario de Mora 10 3.3%

56 San Alejo 07 3.3%

57 Juayúa 13 3.3%

58 Santa Rosa de Lima 07 3.3%

59 Turín 01 3.3%

60 Zaragoza 05 3.3%

61 Berlín 14 3.3%

62 Guazapa 10 3.3%

63 Jucuapa 14 3.3%

64 Ciudad Arce 05 3.3%

65 Nueva Concepción 03 3.3%

66 Tacuba 01 3.3%

67 Santiago Nonualco 06 3.3%

68 El Tránsito 09 3.3%

69 Atiquizaya 01 3.3%

70 San Antonio del Monte 13 3.3%

71 Jiquilisco 14 3.3%

72 El Congo 11 3.3%

73 Chinameca 09 3.3%

74 Ciudad Barrios 09 3.3%

Cities with the highest unemployment rates in El Salvador face significant economic challenges. Izalco has an unemployment rate of 3.3%. These communities often struggle with limited job opportunities, industry decline, or seasonal employment patterns.

High unemployment can have cascading effects on a community, including reduced consumer spending, lower tax revenues, and increased demand for social services. Understanding the causes — whether structural, cyclical, or seasonal — is important for developing effective solutions.

Many cities with high unemployment are actively working to diversify their economies, attract new industries, and invest in workforce development programs to help residents gain skills for in-demand occupations.

Did You Know?

1. In Izalco, about 1 in 30 workers is looking for a job.
2. Seasonal economies (tourism, agriculture) can cause unemployment rates to fluctuate dramatically throughout the year.
3. Many high-unemployment cities have seen improvement through targeted economic development and workforce training programs.

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