Peru Careers and Employment:
Population: As of July 2009, Peru’s population was estimated at 29,546,963, the 40th most populous country in the world and the 4th largest country on the South American continent.
Business Environment: Peru was ranked the 62nd best country in the world for business in a 2009 Doingbusiness.com ranking.
Top Industries: In terms of paid jobs, the labor force in 2005 was divided between services (75.5%), industry (23.8%) and agriculture (0.7%).
Taxes: Peru sanctions a Corporate Income Tax of 30% and a Value Added Tax of 19%.
Weather: Peru includes a diverse climate ranging from tropical in the east to dry desert in the west.
Education: Education at the initial, primary and secondary levels are both compulsory and free. Peru is often considered to have the best education system in Latin America by international institutions including World Bank and UNESCO.
Peru Economics:
In General: Peru maintains a diverse economy corresponding to its varied geography, including prominent industries from fishing to mining. Historically tied to exports, poor infrastructure has presented a serious complication in Peru’s economic development.
Services: Located primarily in and around the capital city of Peru, the services sector accounts for a majority of Peru’s workforce and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Industry: Both manufacturing and extractive industries play significant roles in Peru’s economy, with precious metals including copper, gold and zinc serving as major export products.
Agriculture: Agriculture redistribution efforts have been considered generally ineffective in recent times, as the agricultural sector still plays a comparatively minor role in Peru’s national economy. Peru does maintain a notable fish catch from the southern Pacific Ocean.
A Closer Look: The U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), enacted in February of 2009, has created significant optimism for the future of Peru’s economy.
Did you know? The Peruvian government actively seeks to find and promote foreign investments into all of its industries, with the primary attention focused on the United States.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the CIA World Factbook, Worldwidetax.com and Wikipedia.com.
