Employed population of the country reached the 17 million 289 thousand 700 persons in the second quarter of 2023

During the second quarter of the year 2023, the employed population of the country was 17 million 289 thousand 700 persons, which compared to the level of the same quarter of the year 2022, decreased by 0.9% (-162 thousand 900 persons). 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”, prepared with the results of the Permanent Survey of the National Employment (EPEN).

In the urban area, the employed population reached 13 million 866 thousand 600 persons and in the rural area 3 million 423 thousand persons. Compared to the same quarter of the year 2022, decreased by 0.1% (-12 thousand 400 persons) and in 4.2% (-150 thousand 700 persons), respectively.

At national level and by age group, the employed population aged 45 years old and older increased by 1.9% (120 thousand 800 persons); while it decreased the employed population under 25 years old in 7.9% (-220 thousand 800 personas) and the employed population aged 25 to 44 years old by 0.8% (-63 thousand 100 personas).

During the second quarter of this year, the employed population with university and non-university increased by 7.2% (231 thousand 400 personas) and 7.0% (195 thousand 700 persons), respectively. Meanwhile, the employed population with high-school education decreased by 6.2% (-484 thousand 400 persons) and employed population with elementary and lower level of education decreased by 2.9% (-105 thousand 500 persons).

During the second quarter of this year, the employed population increased by 15.5% (163 thousand 300 persons) in companies of 11 to 50 workers and in 6.8% in establishments of 51 and more workers (220 thousand 100 persons). Meanwhile it decreased by 4.2% (-546 thousand 300 personas) in companies of 1 to 10 workers.

According to branches of activity, the employed population in the Construction sector decreased by 13.1% (-164 thousand 100 persons), followed by Commerce by 3.7% (-117 thousand 200 persons) and Agriculture/Fishing/Mining by 4.4% (-199 thousand 800 persons); meanwhile it increased mainly in the activity of Services by 4.3% (301 thousand 600 persons).

During the second quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate at national level placed by 5.3%, it means 1.1 percentage point more than the same quarter of the year 2022 (4,2%). By sex, the unemployment affected more women (6.1%) than men (4.7%) and impact in the greater proportion among the population under 25 years old (10.6%) and among those that have university superior education level (6.9%).

During the period July 2022-June 2023, the average monthly income coming from work in the country placed in S/. 1,607.80 Soles. In the urban area was of S/.1,757.80 Soles and in the rural area was of S/. 862.90 Soles.

According to the results of the Permanent Survey of Employment, in 14 cities increased the employed population. In this regard, it outstood the cities of Tumbes with 9.4%, followed by Ayacucho 5.9%, Huaraz 4.5%, Chimbote 4.2%, Puerto Maldonado (3.2%), Lima Metropolitan area/ Constitutional Province of Callao (2.5%), Abancay (2.4%), Pucallpa (2.3%), Huánuco (2.1%), Tacna (2.1%), Trujillo (1.9%), Cerro de Pasco (1.6%), Tarapoto (0.6%) and Moquegua (0.4%).

Meanwhile, in 12 cities showed unfavorable performance, was the case of Puno (-11.1%), Chiclayo (-6.8%), Cusco (-4.3%), Huancavelica (-3.6%), Cajamarca (-2.9%), Arequipa and Iquitos (-2.7% for each case), Moyobamba (-1.8%), Ica and Huancayo (-1.5% for each case), Piura (-1.2%) and Chachapoyas (-0.9%).

The results of the Permanent Survey of the National Employment (EPEN) revealed that the unemployment affected mainly to the cities of Cajamarca (11.2%), Huancavelica (10.7%) and Moquegua (10.0%). Meanwhile that the lower unemployment rates were registered in Pucallpa (2.9%), followed by Moyobamba (3.2%) and Puerto Maldonado (4.5%).