In Metropolitan Lima, over 328,000 university graduates are facing underemployment due to low incomes, according to a report from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI). This figure reflects a 21.1% increase in the past year, highlighting an alarming level of job insecurity in the country. The lack of quality employment is attributed to Peru’s weak economic dynamics, where GDP growth remains around 3% annually. This stagnation has led many professionals, despite having higher education, to struggle to cover even 50% of the basic family basket costs.
Labor economist Fernando Cuadros points out that while access to higher education has increased, the quality of this education has not improved at the same rate. “There is a permanent disconnect between what is taught and what is needed in the market,” Cuadros stated, also noting that more than half of professionals work in fields unrelated to their training. The rising informal labor market and the migration of skilled professionals are direct consequences of this situation. Sociologist Alejandra Dinegro warns that without proper coordination between the state, the private sector, and the education system, the country will continue to face the challenge of having more professionals but fewer real opportunities.
