In Argentina, the increase of 376,000 informal jobs over the last two years reflects a troubling trend in the labor market. Despite this growth in informal employment, the unemployment rate surged from 5.7% to 7.5%, leaving approximately 1.7 million people without jobs. Furthermore, the overall employment rate fell from 45.8% to 45%, indicating a shift toward more precarious forms of work that lack social protections.

Currently, around 43% of the employed population is working without formal contracts, leading to a stark projection of about 13 million formal workers and an estimated 9 million operating informally across the country. Of those engaged in informal work, over 60% are wage earners, while the remainder are self-employed individuals. This shift not only impacts new labor models emerging from platform-based work but also extends into traditional sectors such as commerce, which alone accounted for 210,000 new informal positions within this timeframe.

The rise in informal employment raises concerns about the security and stability of the workforce, as workers in informal jobs typically do not receive social benefits such as healthcare or retirement plans. This trend could have long-lasting implications for economic stability in Argentina, as the increasing number of informal workers places additional strain on the nation's social and economic systems. Policymakers will need to address these challenges to promote a more equitable and stable labor market for all citizens.