Peru's working population grew 1.8% in the first quarter of 2017 over the same period in 2016, National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) reported on Monday.
Peru's economically active population thus reached 16.346 million in the first three months of the year, INEI head Anibal Sanchez affirmed.
The rise was driven by jobs in urban areas, which saw a 2.8% (337,100 people) increase in the said period. However, rural employment slid 1.1% (44,900 people).
Based on geographical areas, coastal regions posted the highest increase, with 2.9% (253,100) more jobs in the central and southern coast.
In northern coastal regions —on the other hand— employment dropped 2.1% (50,000 people) due to "Coastal El Niño" phenomenon disasters.
According to INEI, smaller enterprises generated more jobs in January-March. Employment climbed 4.5% (480,300 people) in companies with fewer than 11 employees and 1.5% (18,000 people) in those with 11-50 workers.
Proper employment expanded 0.4% (32,000 people) nationwide, reaching 9.052 million or 52.6% of the Inca nation's working population.
(END) CNA/JJN/DHT/MVB