Labor market trends in Peru and Chile

Research into the labor markets of Peru and Chile highlights shifting workplace dynamics and economic conditions. A study by WeWork and Michael Page examined evolving trends, noting debates in Peru regarding the viability of a four-day workweek and the challenges of managing responsibilities under such a model. In Chile, the study identified a gap in hybrid work arrangements, where 62.3% of professionals prefer hybrid models to improve work-life balance and reduce commuting, yet only 33.1% currently utilize them.

In Peru, data from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) shows that labor informality remains a major structural issue, affecting 69.8% of the occupied population between April 2025 and March 2026. While informality rates saw a slight decrease in the city of Ica, more than half the workforce there remains informal. Despite these challenges, worker sentiment in Peru has shown signs of optimism, with 39.8% of workers reporting that 2026 has been better than expected. This optimism is largely driven by a desire for professional growth, particularly among Millennials and Generation Z.