We present a new Special Edition of the Labor Monitor of Advice.

In the first section of the report, as is customary, we offer an analysis of the evolution of labor demand in Uruguay, with data updated to August 2026:

• Labor demand hit a new low in August. Job opportunities fell below 6,000 after remaining above this benchmark for more than 2 years; this was the lowest reading since April 2024.
• On a year-over-year basis, there was a decline of 20.3%, which is the largest drop so far this year.
• Since January, there has been a cumulative year-over-year drop of 9.5%. More than 51,000 job opportunities have been published since the beginning of 2026, but a scenario of lower dynamism than in 2025 persists.

In the special section of the report, prepared in conjunction with the Department of Economic Studies of the Chamber of Commerce and Services of Uruguay (CCSUy), we present an analysis of labor demand in retail:

• Employment demand in the retail sector accounts for 9.4% of job opportunities in Uruguay. This includes employment opportunities in stores, commercial spaces, warehouses, self-service shops, and supermarkets.
• Demand remained stable in the first half of 2026, even as the national economy remained stagnant. A variation of just 0,7% was recorded compared to the 1st semester of 2025. Employment opportunities decreased slightly in the 1st quarter (-1,3%) and recovered in the 2nd quarter (2,8%).
• Despite projections of economic recovery and a moderation of the “Temu effect,” uncertainty persists heading into the second semester. A climate of caution prevails in the sector: the majority of business owners project a continuation of the current situation, placing their projections in a scenario of stagnation or low growth.