The Central Bank of Peru published electronic payroll indicators showing formal employment nationwide rose 4.2% year on year in February 2026, extending the expansion to 23 consecutive months and implying 246,000 additional formal jobs. Private-sector formal employment increased 5.8% year on year in the same month. Private formal job creation was led by agriculture, services and commerce, which added 82,000, 80,000 and 47,000 jobs respectively. By sector, year-on-year growth was strongest in agriculture (16.9%) and mining (10.9%), while commerce rose 6.3%, construction 5.4% and services 3.8%; fisheries (-1.0%) and electricity (-0.1%) declined slightly. The formal wage bill increased 5.2% in real terms versus February 2025, with the private-sector wage bill up 5.1% in real terms, supported mainly by services and commerce; the wage bill is defined as average income multiplied by the total number of formal jobs.
Central Bank of Peru 2026-04-25
Central Bank of Peru reports 4.2% annual increase in formal employment and 5.2% real wage bill growth in February 2026
The Central Bank of Peru reported that formal employment grew 4.2% year on year in February 2026, marking 23 consecutive months of expansion and adding 246,000 formal jobs, with private-sector formal employment up 5.8%. Job creation was led by agriculture, services and commerce, while the formal wage bill rose 5.2% in real terms and the private-sector wage bill increased 5.1%, driven mainly by services and commerce.