Formal employment in Paraguay reached its highest level ever recorded, with 842,023 private-sector wage earners contributing to the general regime of the Social Security Institute (IPS) in May 2026.
Cumulative growth since July 2023 stands at 134,385 new formal jobs, according to the Labor Observatory of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security. The year-over-year increase was 6.2% compared to May of the previous year, representing an additional 48,809 people entering the formal market and surpassing the 6% target set in the Integrated Employment Formalization Strategy 2025–2028.
Labor Minister Mónica Recalde attributed the result to measures such as streamlined registration processes, reinforced inspections, and active labor intermediation policies. The technical report indicates that 86.8% of new positions over the past year are under full-time contracts, while part-time workers account for 4.3% and day laborers represent 8.5%.
Vice President Pedro Alliana called the figure "historic" and stated that macroeconomic strength has enabled companies to plan long-term hiring.
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