Employed population of the country reached 17 million 207 thousand 200 persons in the third quarter of this year

In the third quarter of the year 2023, the employed population of the country reached 17 million 207 thousand 200 persons, which compared with the same quarter of the year 2022 decreased by -0.9% (156 thousand 800 persons). This was informed by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) through 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).

According to residence area, decreased by -5.9% (207 thousand 400 personas) in the rural area, meanwhile in the urban area increased by 0.4% (50 thousand 600 persons).

According to sex, the female employed population decreased by -1.4% (-106 thousand 300) and the male employed population decreased by -0.5% (50 thousand 400). From the total of the employed population of the country, 55.7% (9 million 586 thousand) are men and the 44.3% (7 million 621 thousand 200) are women.

The results of the EPEN, reveal that the employed population with low education level decreased. Therefore, those that have an elementary or lower education level and those that just reached high-school education level decreased by -2.6% (91 thousand 300) and -4.8% (360 thousand 800), respectively. While, the population with university superior education level increased by 5.4% (182 thousand 700) and those that achieved non-university superior education level increased by 3.9% (112 thousand 800).

According to age group, the employed population under 25 years old decrease by -7.9% (212 thousand 300), and those of the group of 25 to 44 years old decreased by 1.7% (-146 thousand 500). Meanwhile, the group of 45 years old and over increased by 3.2% (202 thousand 100).

During the quarter of reference, the employed population in the companies of 51 and more workers increased by 7.5% (252 thousand) and by 8.0% (92 thousand 800) in the establishments of 11 to 50 workers; meanwhile, it decreased by -3.9% (501 mil 600) in the establishments of 1 to 10 workers.

Accordion to branches of activity, the employed population in Agriculture/Fishing/Mining, decreased by -7.0% (305 thousand 600), in Construction -7.0% (88 thousand 500) and in Manufacturing -6.2% (92 thousand 700). Meanwhile, the employed population in Commerce and Services increased by 8.5% (264 thousand 600) and 0.9% (65 thousand 500), respectively.

During the third quarter of this year, the unemployment rate placed in 5.1%, being 0.8 percentage point greater than in the same quarter of the year 2022 (4.3%) and affected more to women (6.1%) than men (4.4%).

Likewise, the unemployment rate was higher in the young people aged 14 to 24 years old (10.1%) and among those that have university superior education level (6.7%).

During the period October 2022 – September 2023, the average monthly income coming from work of the country, placed in 1,647.30 Soles. In the urban area was of S/1,798.90, amount two times greater to the registered in the rural area that was of S/ 879.10.

During the third quarter of this year, the employed population of Lima Metropolitan area and the Constitutional Province of Callao concentrated the 57.1% (5 million 208 thousand 300 persons) of the employed population of the 26 cities.

The INEI informed that in nine cities increased the employed population, among them it outstood the cities of Trujillo (7.4%), Tarapoto (5.2%), Lima Metropolitan area and the Constitutional Province of Callao (4.5%), Huancavelica and Puerto Maldonado with 2.4% (in each case), among the main ones. On the other hand, it decreased in 17 as it was the case of Iquitos (-8.0%), Pucallpa (-7.8%), Chiclayo (-7.3%) and Puno (-6.9%), among the main ones.

The highest unemployment rates were registered in the cities of Moquegua (11.4%), Cajamarca (9.2%), Puno (8.5%), Chiclayo (8.4%) and Huancavelica (8.2%). On the other hand, Moyobamba (3.8%), Puerto Maldonado (4.3%), Tarapoto (4.6%), Huaraz (4.9%) and Tumbes (5.2%), showed a lower unemployment rate.