Direct employment in the Peruvian mining subsector reached a total of 280,674 workers in October 2025, the highest figure recorded so far this year, consolidating nine consecutive months of growth, according to the Mining Statistical Bulletin of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM).
This result also represents a monthly increase of 1.5% compared to September, when 276,458 jobs were reported in the sector, and more than 40,000 new jobs compared to the month of February of this year.
The performance of mining employment reflects the greater dynamism of operations in different regions of the country, as well as the effect of the reactivation of projects, expansions of productive units and greater demand for specialized services linked to extractive activity.
The sustained growth of formal employment reinforces the role of mining as one of the main generators of decentralized work in Peru.
From the Institute of Mining Engineers of Peru (IIMP), its general manager, Gustavo De Vinatea, highlighted that the growth of mining employment confirms the capacity of the sector to generate formal and quality work, but stressed the need to create conditions that allow this trend to be sustained.
He also recalled that for every direct job generated by mining, between 5 and 7 indirect jobs are generated, considering the value chain involved in mining development.
“To maintain this trend and even more so, to promote quality employment throughout Peru, it is necessary to boost investments. To achieve this, it is key to simplify the procedures for the development of infrastructure projects, reduce administrative deadlines and offer greater predictability to investments, so that projects can be developed in a timely manner and continue to boost economic activity in the country,” he stated.
Arequipa leads employment
At the regional level, the MINEM indicates that mining employment was mainly concentrated in Arequipa, La Libertad, Moquegua, Cajamarca and Áncash, regions that continue to lead the generation of jobs associated with mining activity, both in operations and in contracting companies.
These regions explain an important part of the growth observed during 2025 and reflect the impact of the sector on local economies.
By type of employment, the bulletin shows that male participation continues to be the majority in the sector; However, female employment reached more than 22 thousand positions, obtaining 8.1% of the total jobs generated in October of this year, driven mainly by the incorporation of women in technical, administrative and specialized services areas.
