Unemployment insurance: almost 40,000 laid-off workers began collecting benefits in the first quarter

It is a fact that marks the level of layoffsnot attributable to the worker, but by problems, closures or restructuring in companies.

Of these 39,283 registrations, 10,357 corresponded to the industry, 8.559 al trade and 6,731 to the construction.

Computing the losses, because they found work or because this insurance is temporary, In March 2026, 104,550 people received this benefit with an average payment of $300,557.

Of that total, 71,790 were men and 32,760 were women. 44,716 resided in the province of Buenos Aires; in Santa Fe, 7,476; in Córdoba, 7,881 and in the City of Buenos Aires, 6,857.

If the 174,335 registrations in 2024 plus 153,847 in 2025 are added, in two years and 3 months of the current administration, 367,465 received that benefit. In 2023 there were 108,942 and in 2022 a total of 86,268.

Those dismissed without just cause, due to termination of contract or for reasons external to the worker who was in a dependency relationship included in Law 24,013 on Employment Contracts, are entitled to this benefit.

While they collect this insurance – for up to 12 months – they also receive family allowances and continue with the coverage of the social insurance to which they are affiliated. And the months of collection of the benefit They are counted as seniority for retirement or pension.

The amount of the benefit is descending: the first 4 months you receive 100%, between the fifth and eighth months, 80% and between the ninth and twelfth, 70%.

An important requirement is to have had at least 6 months of work with contributions in the last 3 years prior to dismissal or termination of the contract.

In the case of casual and seasonal workers, the requirement is to have worked less than 12 months in the last 3 years and more than 90 days in the last year, before the end of the job.

The amount and number of installments (between 2 and 12) are calculated according to income and months worked (with contributions) during the last 3 years. Workers over 45 years of age are paid for 6 more months.

In 2023, the Minimum Wage Council established that the unemployment benefit must be equivalent to 75% of the worker’s best, normal and usual monthly remuneration in the 6 months prior to the cessation of work that caused unemployment.

But the Council Resolution clarified that “In no case can the monthly benefit be less than 50% of the current Minimum Living and Mobile Wage nor higher than 100%”. This ceiling practically cancels the equivalence of 75% of the best remuneration of the last 6 months prior to dismissal.