Highest Unemployment in Guatemala

Top 100 cities ranked by highest unemployment

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All Countries · Guatemala

Highest Unemployment — Guatemala

1 Nuevo San Carlos 15 2.6%

2 San Andrés Xecul 21 2.6%

3 Rabinal 02 2.6%

4 El Palmar 13 2.6%

5 El Tejar 03 2.6%

6 Sanarate 05 2.6%

7 San Pedro Carchá 01 2.6%

8 La Esperanza 13 2.6%

9 Chisec 01 2.6%

10 Santa Bárbara 20 2.6%

11 Poptún 12 2.6%

12 El Asintal 15 2.6%

13 Jocotenango 16 2.6%

14 Lívingston 09 2.6%

15 Tiquisate 06 2.6%

16 Palencia 07 2.6%

17 Puerto San José 06 2.6%

18 Guazacapán 18 2.6%

19 Morales 09 2.6%

20 Gualán 22 2.6%

21 Salcajá 13 2.6%

22 San Cristóbal Verapaz 01 2.6%

23 San Pablo Jocopilas 20 2.6%

24 Flores 12 2.6%

25 El Estor 09 2.6%

26 Esquipulas 04 2.6%

27 San Lucas Sacatepéquez 16 2.6%

28 Patzicía 03 2.6%

29 Santa María de Jesús 16 2.6%

30 San Francisco Zapotitlán 20 2.6%

31 Cabricán 13 2.6%

32 Nebaj 14 2.6%

33 Alotenango 16 2.6%

34 La Gomera 06 2.6%

35 Zaragoza 03 2.6%

36 San Felipe 15 2.6%

37 San Luis Jilotepeque 10 2.6%

38 Guastatoya 05 2.6%

39 San Andrés Itzapa 03 2.6%

40 Nahualá 19 2.6%

41 Sumpango 16 2.6%

42 Jalpatagua 11 2.6%

43 San Sebastián 15 2.6%

44 Santiago Sacatepéquez 16 2.6%

45 San Benito 12 2.6%

46 Momostenango 21 2.6%

47 Comalapa 03 2.6%

48 Santiago Atitlán 19 2.6%

49 Ciudad Vieja 16 2.6%

50 Tecpán Guatemala 03 2.6%

51 Yepocapa 03 2.6%

52 Jacaltenango 08 2.6%

53 Mazatenango 20 2.6%

54 Guatemala City 07 2.6%

55 Villa Nueva 07 2.6%

56 Mixco 07 2.6%

57 Cobán 01 2.6%

58 Quetzaltenango 13 2.6%

59 Jalapa 10 2.6%

60 Escuintla 06 2.6%

61 Villa Canales 07 2.6%

62 Jutiapa 11 2.6%

63 Chichicastenango 14 2.6%

64 San Juan Sacatepéquez 07 2.6%

65 Petapa 07 2.6%

66 Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa 06 2.6%

67 Chiquimula 04 2.6%

68 Coatepeque 13 2.6%

69 Chinautla 07 2.6%

70 Totonicapán 21 2.6%

71 Puerto Barrios 09 2.6%

72 Chimaltenango 03 2.6%

73 Malacatán 17 2.6%

74 Retalhuleu 15 2.6%

75 Santa Catarina Pinula 07 2.6%

76 San José Pinula 07 2.6%

77 Huehuetenango 08 2.6%

78 Santa Cruz del Quiché 14 2.6%

79 Ostuncalco 13 2.6%

80 San Pedro Sacatepéquez 17 2.6%

81 Patulul 20 2.6%

82 Cuilapa 18 2.6%

83 Cantel 13 2.6%

84 Masagua 06 2.6%

85 Sololá 19 2.6%

86 Antigua Guatemala 16 2.6%

87 San Marcos 17 2.6%

88 Barberena 18 2.6%

89 Colomba 13 2.6%

90 Asunción Mita 11 2.6%

91 Soloma 08 2.6%

92 Zacapa 22 2.6%

93 Panzos 01 2.6%

94 Amatitlán 07 2.6%

95 Palín 06 2.6%

96 Salamá 02 2.6%

97 Chicacao 20 2.6%

98 San Pedro Ayampuc 07 2.6%

99 San Francisco El Alto 21 2.6%

100 Patzún 03 2.6%

Cities with the highest unemployment rates in Guatemala face significant economic challenges. Nuevo San Carlos has an unemployment rate of 2.6%. 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 Nuevo San Carlos, about 1 in 38 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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