President Santiago Peña celebrates the addition of 96,000 jobs in Paraguay, leading to a drop in unemployment to 4.6%, the lowest since 2017. Major job growth occurred in commerce, hospitality, and construction. As he aims for 500,000 new jobs, Peña faces challenges in public approval due to recent scandals.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña announced significant job creation under his administration, citing a report from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Since he took office, over 96,000 new jobs have been created, with notable increases in sectors such as commerce, restaurants, hotels, community services, and construction. This has led to a decrease in unemployment to 4.6%, the lowest level since 2017, and an increase in private employment formalization to 42.3%.
Peña expressed his dedication to job creation, aiming to reach 500,000 new positions. He reported that the employed population grew from 2,899,993 in Q3 2023 to 2,996,550 by year-end 2024. The most significant job growth occurred in commerce and hospitality, adding over 51,000 jobs, followed by community services with 25,000 jobs, and construction with over 19,000.
The INE report indicated a decrease in unemployment by 20,000 people compared to the previous quarter, underscoring Paraguay’s commitment to formal employment and quality jobs. Labor Minister Mónica Recalde emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to foster a dynamic labor market with more opportunities.
Despite the positive employment data, Peña faced challenges in his approval ratings due to a scandal involving a congressman. A recent survey showed him dropping to sixth place among South American leaders, reflecting a 3.6% decline in his approval since December. In contrast, Chile’s President Gabriel Boric Font gained a 4.4% increase in approval, while President Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay retained the top spot with a 51.5% positive image.
In summary, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña’s administration has successfully created over 96,000 jobs, significantly reducing the unemployment rate to 4.6%, the lowest since 2017. This growth, particularly in commerce and construction, reflects a commitment to improving the labor market, despite challenges to Peña’s approval ratings stemming from recent political scandals. The government remains focused on increasing job creation to reach future employment goals.
Original Source: en.mercopress.com
