Covid-19 and labor market in Metropolitan Lima and Callao: A gender analysis in Peru

Paredes Zegarra T. · Desarrollo y Sociedad (2025) · DOI: 10.13043/dys.99.4

Resumen

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 quarantine measures on employment in Lima Metropolitan Area and Callao in 2020, with a particular focus on gender disparities. Women’s vulnerability in the labor market, reflected in lower wages, domestic responsibilities, and high informality rates, underscores the importance of this analysis. Using data from the Permanent Employment Survey (EPE) and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) methodology, the study evaluates how mobility restrictions affected working hours and hourly income. Results indicate a reduction in working hours, with the most significant impacts observed among female heads of households. Conversely, women in essential jobs and men in the formal sector experienced increases in working hours. Regarding income, women saw substantial reductions, whereas men in essential jobs and women in the formal sector recorded income increases. The findings highlight the need for public policies aimed at mitigating labor inequalities and protecting the most vulnerable workers.

Instituciones: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú