The employed population in Metropolitan Lima grew by 7.7% to reach 5,988,700 people in the May-June-July 2026 moving quarter, official statistics showed. Gaspar Moran, head of the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), reported that the capital added 425,800 jobs compared to the same period in 2025.
The region's unemployment rate dropped to 4.7% during the three-month period, representing 294,100 people actively seeking work. INEI confirmed that this is the lowest unemployment rate historically recorded by its Permanent National Employment Survey. The rate fell by 1.4 percentage points from 6.1% recorded in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
Men accounted for 3,209,500 of the total employed workforce in the capital, representing 53.6%, while women made up 2,779,200 workers, or 46.4%. Female employment experienced a faster growth rate, rising by 9.5% with 240,600 jobs added, compared to a 6.1% increase among men, who added 185,200 jobs relative to the same period in 2025.
Metropolitan Lima, which encompasses the urban core of Peru's capital, experienced job gains across all age demographics between May and July 2026. The most significant expansion occurred among workers aged 45 and older, where employment grew by 12.9%, adding 285,500 people. Young workers aged 14 to 24 saw employment rise by 5.5%, representing 34,500 individuals, while employment for those aged 25 to 44 increased by 3.9%, or 105,900 people.
Job growth by education level and industry
Employment among workers with university higher education registered the strongest growth, surging by 17.1% with 291,000 jobs gained compared to the same quarter in 2025. Non-university higher education graduates saw employment increase by 8.6%, or 103,200 people, while employment for workers with secondary education grew by 2.9%, adding 65,900 people. In contrast, employment among individuals with primary education or lower fell by 8.9%, a decrease of 34,300 people.
Across economic activities in Metropolitan Lima, job creation was led by construction, which expanded by 9.5% with 37,000 positions added. The services sector followed with an 8.0% growth rate, adding 248,900 workers. Commerce increased by 7.0%, representing 87,300 jobs, while manufacturing grew by 4.5%, adding 33,500 workers.
By enterprise size, employment in businesses with 51 or more workers rose by 13.3%, adding 210,100 people to payrolls. Establishments employing 11 to 50 workers grew by 13.0%, adding 86,900 workers, while micro-enterprises with 1 to 10 workers expanded by 3.9%, adding 128,800 people.
Employment quality and average monthly earnings
The population with adequate employment in Metropolitan Lima reached 3,907,200 people, marking a 7.7% increase of 278,100 people compared to the same quarter in 2025. Meanwhile, the underemployed population grew by 7.6%, or 147,800 people. Underemployment caused by insufficient working hours rose by 0.7%, adding 2,300 workers, while underemployment driven by low income increased by 9.2%, representing 145,500 people.
Average monthly income from main work activities in Metropolitan Lima rose to 2,312.6 soles during the May-June-July 2026 period. This represented a 4.6% increase, or 101 soles, compared to the same period in 2025. Soles are the official currency of Peru.
Men earned an average monthly income of 2,606.2 soles, up 3.4% or 85.5 soles, while women earned an average of 1,968.2 soles, reflecting a 7.2% increase or 131.5 soles. By age group, workers aged 14 to 24 experienced the largest percentage income increase, rising 10.8% or 134.4 soles. Income for workers aged 25 to 44 increased by 5.8% or 132.7 soles, and earnings for those aged 45 and older grew by 2.1% or 50.1 soles.
Income variation by sector and qualifications
By educational attainment, average monthly income grew most sharply for non-university higher education graduates, rising by 9.1% or 172.6 soles. Workers with primary education or lower saw incomes increase by 6.1% or 71.5 soles, while those with secondary education gained 4.8% or 75.9 soles. However, average income for workers with university higher education fell by 1.9%, dropping by 65.4 soles.
By industry sector, workers in commerce recorded the highest earnings growth rate at 12.2%, an increase of 207.5 soles. Construction workers followed with a 9.4% earnings increase, or 231 soles, while services sector earnings rose by 4.7% or 109.4 soles. In manufacturing, average monthly income fell by 6.5%, a reduction of 144.6 soles.
The construction sector posted the highest overall average monthly income in the capital at 2,695.5 soles. Commerce recorded the lowest average monthly income at 1,915 soles.
National labor market trends and regional comparisons
The statistics agency detailed the findings in its technical report titled Peru: Behavior of Labor Market Indicators at the National Level and in 28 Cities. Moran noted that Metropolitan Lima's progress occurred against the backdrop of broader nationwide employment expansion during the second quarter of 2026.
Across Peru, the employed population reached 17,782,000 people in the second quarter of 2026, an increase of 1.8% or 315,900 people compared to the second quarter of 2025. Male employment nationwide grew by 1.8%, adding 174,300 people, while female employment nationwide also grew by 1.8%, adding 141,600 people. The national unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, down 1.7 percentage points from 5.9% a year earlier.
On a national scale, construction led employment growth across economic sectors with a 12.2% increase, adding 133,300 workers. Services grew by 4.3%, adding 318,600 people, manufacturing rose by 1.4%, adding 20,400 workers, and commerce grew by 0.2%, adding 6,500 people. Conversely, the primary sector, comprising agriculture, fishing, and mining, contracted by 3.9%, losing 162,900 workers.
Between July 2025 and June 2026, the national average monthly income from work was 1,966.3 soles, an 8.9% increase of 160.6 soles compared to the July 2024 to June 2025 period.
Employment expanded in 17 Peruvian cities during the second quarter of 2026. Arequipa, Peru's second largest urban center, registered the highest growth at 8.9%, followed by Huaraz at 7.7%, Metropolitan Lima and the Constitutional Province of Callao at 7.5%, Bagua Grande at 6.8%, and Puerto Maldonado at 5.8%.
