The employed population of the country reached 17 million 305 thousand persons during the third quarter of 2024

According to the results of the Permanent Survey of National Employment (EPEN), the employed population of the country totalized 17 million 305 thousand persons, increasing by 0.6% (97 thousand 800 persons) during the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of 2023. This was informed by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) in the technical report Peru: Behavior of the Indicators of the Labor Market at National Level and in 26 cities.

According to residence area, in the urban area the employed population increased by 0.9% (129 thousand 700); meanwhile, in the rural area decreased by 1.0% (31 thousand 900 persons less).

Compared to the same quarter of the last year, the male employed population increased by 0.9% (84 thousand 900) and the female employed population increased by 0.2% (12 thousand 900). From the total of the employed population of the country, 55.9% (9 million 670 thousand 900) are men and 44.1% (7 million 634 thousand 100) women.

At national level, the employed population of 45 years of age and older grew by 3.4% (218 thousand); meanwhile, the employed population under 25 years of age reduced by 4.4% (109 thousand 300 persons less). It is worth to mention that the employed population of 25 to 44 years of age did not registered significative variation.

By comparing the quarter under analysis with the same quarter of the last year, the employed population with university superior education increased by 3.2% (112 thousand 900), followed by those that achieved to study non-university superior education by 0.3% (8 thousand). Meanwhile, the employment between those that have primary or lower education level decreased by 1.0% (33 thousand persons less). The population with secondary education level did not register a significative variation.

The employed population in companies of 11 to 50 employees grew by 5.3% (65 thousand 800) and in establishments of 1 to 10 employees by 0.5% (64 thousand 800). On the other hand, in the companies of 51 employees and over, the employment decreased by 0.9% (32 thousand 800 persons less).

The INEI informed that during the quarter under study, the employed population in Manufacturing grew by 11.7% (162 thousand 700) and in Services by 0.2% (13 thousand 400) compared with the same quarter of 2023.

Nevertheless, the employed population in the primary sector of the economy (Agriculture, Fishing and Mining) decreased by 1.7% (68 thousand 100 persons less) and in Construction 0.7% (7 thousand 700 persons less), compared to the third quarter of 2023. The activity of Commerce did not register a significant variation.

During the third quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate of the country placed in 5.3%, higher figure in 0.2 percentage point compared to the same quarter of the last year (5.1%). The female unemployment rate (6.5%) was higher than the male one (4.4%) in 2.1 percentage points.

During the period of October 2023 – September 2024, the average monthly income placed in S/. 1,737.60 Soles, higher amount in 5.5% (S/. 90.30 Soles) than the reported in the period October 2022 – September 2023 (S/. 1,647.30 Soles).

In the urban area, the average monthly income was of S/. 1, 899.70 Soles, a higher figure in S/. 998.20 Soles than the registered in the rural area, that was S/. 901.50 Soles.

During the third quarter of 2024, the employed population increased in 16 of the 26 cities reasearched by the Permanent Survey of National Employment (EPEN). Regarding this issue, it outstood the cities of Moquegua (8.5%), Pucallpa (6.8%), Lima Metropolitan area and Constitutional Province of Callao (4.9%), and Cajamarca (4.8%). On the other hand, it decreased the employment in Huanuco (-7.4%), Huancayo (-6.1%); as well as Cerro de Pasco and Puerto Maldonado (in -3.7% for each case)

The INEI informed that during the thirs quarter of 2024, in the cities of Huancavelica (11.5%), Moquegua (11.2%) and Cajamarca (11.0%) were registered the highest unemployment rates. On the other hand, the lowest unemployment rates were registered in Trujillo (3.6%), Tarapoto (4.0%), Moyobamba (4.0%) and Pucallpa (4.9%).

During the period October 2023 – September 2024, four cities registered the highest rates of informal employment: Pucallpa (73.5%), Ayacucho (71.4%), Tacna (70.8%) and Puerto Maldonado (70.3%). Meanwhile, the lowest rates were registered in Moquegua (54.3%), Arequipa (54.9%), Lima Metropolitan area and Constitutional Province of Callao (57.3%), and Ica (58.4%), among the main ones.