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Peru’s 2025 Labor Competitiveness Barely Passes as Regional Gaps Persist

The findings highlight fragile gains in a labor market facing deep regional divides.

Overview

  • ComexPerú’s 2025 index scored Peru at 54.2 out of 100, up 1.7 points from 2024, yet pension affiliation still misses 57.3% of workers.
  • Only 8 of 24 regions improved access to jobs, with Cajamarca leading that pillar at 82 points and Tumbes at the bottom with 11.6.
  • Regional gaps are wide, with La Libertad on top at 72.7 and Puno last at 26.1, and no department leading all three pillars.
  • Puno shows severe job fragility with 88% informality, 69.4% subemployment, 73% earning below the legal minimum, 85.1% health coverage, and just 20.5% in pensions.
  • Economists warn that election uncertainty, El Niño and global tensions could slow formal job creation in 2026, and they urge policies to boost formalization and productivity.