Employed population of the country reached 17 million 27 thousand 200 persons in the first quarter of the current year

The National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) presented the Technical Report Peru: Behavior of the Indicators of the Labor Market at National level and in 26 Cities, corresponding to the first quarter of the year 2023, prepared with the results of the Permanent Survey of the National Employment (EPEN). This Survey is the biggest employment specialized survey at national level, of the National Statistical System (SEN). The sample is designed to provide information at short term about the labor market at national level, urban and rural area and for 26 cities.

One of the reasons to the execution of this survey are the fastest social and economic transformations observed in the last years in the country, as well as the appearance of new work arrangements. This makes necessary to have a statistical tool that provides in the short-term information of the labor market at more disaggregated geographic levels (cities) according to the recommendations of the Organization for the Cooperation and the Economic Development (OCDE).

During the first quarter of 2023, the employed population of the country was of 17 million 27 thousand 200 persons, which compared with the same quarter of the year 2022, decreased by 0.3% (-54 thousand 600 thousand persons). In the urban area the Employed Economically Active Population (PEA) increased by 0.7% (93 thousand 100 persons), while in the rural area decreased by 4.1% (-147 thousand 700 persons).

The urban area concentrates the 79.6% (13 million 550 thousand 900) of the employed population of the country, meanwhile the rural area the 20.4% (3 million 476 thousand 300).

According to age group, the employed population under 25 years old decreased by 5.2% and those aged 25 to 44 years old decreased by 0.3%, while, the employed that are 45 years old and older increased by 2.1%.

74.0% of the employed population Works in establishments of 1 to 10 employees, 7.0% in economic units of 11 to 50 employees and 19.0% in companies of 51 and more employees.

During the first quarter of 2023, the employed population decreased by 1.8% (-231 thousand 700 persons) in establishments of 1 to 10 employees. Meanwhile, in companies of 11 to 50 workers increased by 14.0% (145 thousand 700) and in companies of 51 and more workers increased by 1.0% (31 thousand 400 persons).

During the first quarter of the year 2023, compared with the same quarter of the last year, the employed population that work in Construction activity decreased by 8.1% (-100 thousand 200), Commerce decreased by 4.4% (-140 thousand 200) and in Agriculture, Fishing and Mining decreased by 3.6% (-160 thousand 800). Meanwhile, it increased in Services by 4.8% (324 thousand) and in Manufacturing by 1.6% (22 thousand 600).

During the first quarter of the year 2023, the unemployment rate placed by 5.9%, lower in 0.3 percentage point compared with the same quarter of the year 2022 (6.2%). The female unemployment rate was of 7.1%, higher in 2.3 percentage points compared the male unemployment rate (4.8%).

During the period April 2022 – March 2023, the average monthly income coming from work at national level was of S/1,566.90 Soles. The average income of urban area placed by S/1,711.40 Soles, while in rural area was higher in 856.80 Soles.

For the first time, since the 1st quarter of 2023, the INEI provides the country in a quarterly way of statistical information about the labor market at level of 26 cities. The design of the survey allows in the short term to provide quarterly data about the behavior of the labor market of the cities of Abancay, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Chachapoyas, Chiclayo, Chimbote, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huancayo, Huánuco, Huaraz, Ica, Iquitos, Lima Metropolitan area and y the Constitutional Province of Callao, Moquegua, Moyobamba, Cerro de Pasco, Piura, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Puno, Tacna, Tarapoto, Trujillo and Tumbes.

According to the results of the Permanent Survey of National Employment (EPEN), during the first quarter of the year 2023 compared to the same quarter of the year 2022, the employed population increased in the city of Tumbes by 9.8%, in Ica 7.5%, Lima Metropolitan area and Callao 4.1%, Huaraz 3.6%, Huánuco 2.9%, Abancay 2.6%, Chachapoyas 2.3%, Chimbote 1.7%, Moyobamba 1.2% and Pucallpa 0.5%. Meanwhile, in 16 cities, the employed population during the first quarter of the year 2023 decreased being the strongest drop in the cities of Puno (-15.6%), Cusco (-11.6%), Huancavelica (-10.1%), Arequipa (-6.2%), Chiclayo (-6.5%), Moquegua (-6.2%), Ayacucho (-3.6%) and Iquitos (-3.0%), among others.

During the first quarter of the year 2023, in the city of Puno the 15.3% of the economically active population was unemployed and was actively looking for a job, followed by the city of Huancavelica with 15.2%, Moquegua with 14.8%, Cusco 12.3%, Huancayo 10.5%, Cajamarca 10.1% and Huanuco 10.0%, among the main ones.

The EPEN results reveal that during the annual period April 2022 – March 2023, the city of Arequipa have the highest average monthly income for work by reaching S/ 2,136.20. On the other hand, the city of Tacna, registers in the same period, the lowest average monthly income for work compared to the 26 analyzed cities (S/1,536.40).