Guatemala: jobs and pay

What is the minimum wage in Guatemala in 2026?

The 2026 minimum wage in Guatemala department is Q4,002.28 a month (Q131.58 a day) for non-agricultural work and Q3,791.20 (Q124.64 a day) for agricultural work, plus a Q250 incentive bonus, according to the Ministry of Labour. For export and maquila work it is Q3,409.73 a month.

Guatemala sets separate minimum wages for two economic districts. In the rest of the country (district 2) the monthly rates are Q3,816.90 for non-agricultural, Q3,625.89 for agricultural and Q3,221.10 for export and maquila work. The 2026 increases were 7.5%, 5.5% and 4% respectively. The rates are fixed each year by government decree after recommendations from employer, worker and government commissions.

Official sources: Ministry of Labour

What is the unemployment rate in Guatemala?

Guatemala's unemployment rate was 2.2% in the second quarter of 2025, after 2.3% in the first quarter and 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Ministry of Labour's Economic and employment context 2025 report, based on the INE's continuous employment survey (ENEIC).

Unemployment is highest in the Guatemala City metropolitan area, at 3.9% in the second quarter of 2025. Low unemployment rates sit alongside a large informal sector: the report shows informal employment is the most common form of work, with the metropolitan area's informal share falling from 48.9% to 45.2%. More recent survey results are published by the INE.

Official sources: Economic and employment context 2025

What is the average salary in Guatemala?

Average monthly labour income in Guatemala was Q2,713 per worker in the second quarter of 2025, up from Q2,592 in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Ministry of Labour's Economic and employment context 2025 report, using the INE's continuous employment survey.

Income is highest in the Guatemala City metropolitan area, at Q3,901 a month. The average covers all workers, including informal and self-employed workers, so it is below the formal minimum wage. The same report shows 1,315,836 private-sector workers paying into the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) in September 2025, 4.7% more than a year earlier. The ministry's labour market statistics page lists its other bulletins.

Official sources: Economic and employment context 2025 · labour market statistics page

How many people get a pension from the IGSS in Guatemala?

The Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) paid 228,176 pensions under its disability, old-age and survivors programme (IVS) in 2025, worth Q5,908.6 million, according to its 2025 annual report summary. Old-age pensions were the largest group, with 130,567 pensioners and Q4,758.0 million paid, followed by 89,558 survivors' pensions and 8,051 disability pensions.

The IVS programme covers workers who pay social security contributions, so most informal and self-employed workers are not included. The same summary lists 114,334 retired state employees, who are paid under a separate state pension scheme. Earlier annual reports are on the IGSS reports page.

Official sources: 2025 annual report summary · reports page

How many workers pay into social security in Guatemala?

The IGSS had 1,742,810 contributing members in 2025, according to its 2025 annual report summary. 1,322,365 of them (75.9%) worked for private employers, 249,986 (14.3%) for the central government and 170,459 (9.8%) for the rest of the public sector.

Counting family members who are also entitled to care, such as spouses or partners (677,305) and children under seven (978,313), the IGSS covered 3,780,259 people in total. Membership is compulsory for employees of registered employers, so the figures mainly reflect formal employment. The Ministry of Labour's reports show that informal work remains the most common form of employment in Guatemala.

Official sources: 2025 annual report summary

What is Guatemala's minimum wage?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2024, is 3,343 GTQ a month (about $431). No year since 2012 has been higher.

How much do workers in Guatemala earn on average?

$501 a month: that is average monthly earnings of employees in Guatemala for 2025, according to the ILO. That is the highest since at least 2012. It is 9th highest of 14 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is $523 a month. World rank, highest first: 45th of 57.

What is the unemployment rate in Guatemala?

According to the ILO, the unemployment rate in Guatemala was 2.6% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2010, at 3.5%; its low point was 2021, at 2.2%. Latin America & Caribbean median: 6.0%; Guatemala is 28th highest of 29. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 150th highest.

How many young people in Guatemala are unemployed?

According to the ILO, unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Guatemala was 4.8% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 6.3%; its low point was 2021, at 3.8%. Latin America & Caribbean median: 14.0%; Guatemala is 28th highest of 29. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 150th highest.

What is the labour force participation rate in Guatemala?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate in Guatemala at 59.6% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 65.1%; its low point was 2020, at 58.8%. It is 21st highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 63.4%. Worldwide: 104th of 174.

What share of women in Guatemala are in the labour force?

38.3%: that is the labour force participation rate for women in Guatemala for 2025, according to the ILO. The peak was 45.0% in 2012 and the low 37.1% in 2019. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 52.5%, and Guatemala placed 28th highest of 29. Worldwide: 147th of 174.

How many people in Guatemala are employed?

The ILO puts the employment to population ratio in Guatemala at 58.1% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 57.0% (2020) to 63.3% (2012). Latin America & Caribbean median: 59.4%; Guatemala is 17th highest of 29. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 88th highest.

What is vulnerable employment in Guatemala?

In 2025, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Guatemala was 36.2%, according to the ILO. The peak was 42.0% in 2021 and the low 33.8% in 2019. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 29.8%, and Guatemala placed 10th highest of 29. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 72nd highest.

How many people in Guatemala are employees?

The ILO puts the share of workers who are paid employees in Guatemala at 60.9% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2019, at 63.4%; its low point was 2021, at 53.8%. Latin America & Caribbean median: 64.8%; Guatemala is 18th highest of 29. Worldwide: 96th of 174.