Dinámicas del mercado laboral en Costa Rica antes, durante y después de la COVID-19 (2019-2025)

• Autor: Morales Ramos, Roxana
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2026
• Institución: Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann
• Repositorio: Revistas - Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann
• Lenguaje: español
• OAI Identifier: oai:revistas.unjbg.edu.pe:article/2560
• Enlace del recurso: https://revistas.unjbg.edu.pe/index.php/eyn/article/view/2560
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: Composition of the labor force; Unemployment; Employment; Labor force and employment: size and structure; Demographic trends; Composición de la fuerza laboral; Desempleo; Empleo; Fuerza laboral y empleo: tamaño y estructura; Tendencias demográficas

The COVID-19 pandemic generated unprecedented disruption in labor markets worldwide, with particularly profound impacts in Latin America. In Costa Rica, the initial effects and subsequent recovery process occurred within a context of accelerated demographic transformations, characterized by population aging and a relative decline in the young population. This study analyzes the evolution and main structural changes of the Costa Rican labor market between 2019 and 2025. A non-experimental, longitudinal, and descriptive-analytical design is employed, based on microdata from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses' (INEC) Continuous Employment Survey, information from the Central Bank of Costa Rica, and public policy regulations related to the health emergency. The results show a significant deterioration in employment during 2020, followed by a heterogeneous recovery across sectors, population groups, and types of occupation. A sustained increase in labor inactivity is also identified, particularly among women and older adults, along with a reduction in the labor force despite population growth. These findings underscore the need to strengthen policies aimed at expanding labor force participation, reducing structural gaps, and improving the resilience of the labor market to future shocks.