Honduras: jobs and pay

What is the minimum wage in Honduras?

The lowest minimum wage in Honduras for 2026 is L 9,596.64 a month, for agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing employers with 1 to 10 workers, according to Ministerial Agreement SETRASS-233-2026, published in La Gaceta on 29 April 2026. In manufacturing, the rate ranges from L 12,869.14 for small firms to L 18,786.37 for firms with 151 or more workers.

Honduras sets separate minimum wages for each branch of activity and four firm sizes. The tripartite agreement covers 2026 and 2027: rates rise 6% for firms with up to 50 workers and 7% for firms with 51 or more in 2026, with a 7.5% rise for the largest firms in 2027. The table also gives daily and hourly rates.

Official sources: Acuerdo SETRASS-233-2026 (La Gaceta)

What is the unemployment rate in Honduras?

Unemployment in Honduras was 7.1% in June 2026, up from 4.9% in 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The number of unemployed rose from 211,015 to 290,314.

The figures come from the EPHPM household survey, carried out from 10 June to 2 August 2026 across 19,808 dwellings. The unemployment rate counts people who looked for work and found none; it does not include the large number of people working few hours or for low pay. The INE's summary reports that people with employment problems, including underemployment, numbered 2,077,483 in 2026.

Official sources: INE: EPHPM 2026 · INE: Mercado laboral, pobreza y desigualdad 2026

What is the average salary in Honduras?

Average monthly income from work in Honduras was L 10,356 per employed person in June 2026, up from L 9,682 in 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Public-sector employees averaged L 17,576, private-sector employees L 10,570 and domestic workers L 5,628.

The figure covers income from the main job, including the self-employed, whose average was L 9,776. Urban workers averaged L 12,167 and rural workers L 7,609. Averages are pulled up by high earners, so most workers earn less than this. The INE says income from work rose 6.9% overall; with inflation above 6%, real gains were small.

Official sources: INE: Resultados mercado laboral y pobreza, junio 2026

How many people work in Honduras?

Honduras had 3,795,263 employed people in June 2026, down from 4,075,415 in 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The labour force was 4,085,577, and the participation rate was 53.6%.

The labour force counts people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. The INE's results report says the private sector provides 53.3% of jobs and self-employment 29.1%. Many jobs are informal, without social security cover. Figures are survey estimates, so year-to-year changes carry a margin of error.

Official sources: INE: Mercado laboral, pobreza y desigualdad 2026 · INE: Resultados mercado laboral y pobreza, junio 2026

How much is the minimum wage in Honduras?

The ILO puts the statutory minimum wage in Honduras at 11,508 HNL a month (about $464) in 2024. No year since 2012 has been higher.

What is the average monthly salary in Honduras?

$433 a month: that is average monthly earnings of employees in Honduras for 2025, according to the ILO. That is the highest since at least 2012. Latin America & Caribbean median: $523 a month; Honduras is 13th highest of 14. Worldwide: 49th of 57.

What is the unemployment rate in Honduras?

The ILO puts the unemployment rate in Honduras at 4.9% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.2% (2008) to 11.0% (2020). Latin America & Caribbean median: 6.0%; Honduras is 20th highest of 29. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 93rd highest.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Honduras?

In 2025, unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Honduras was 8.5%, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 5.5% (2007) to 17.1% (2020). Latin America & Caribbean median: 14.0%; Honduras is 22nd highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 122nd of 174.

What share of people in Honduras are in the labour force?

According to the ILO, the labour force participation rate in Honduras was 56.6% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 56.5% (2023) to 66.5% (2018). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 63.4%, and Honduras placed 25th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 127th of 174.

How many women in Honduras are working or looking for work?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate for women in Honduras was 39.6%, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 37.8% (2007) to 50.0% (2018). It is 27th highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 52.5%. Worldwide: 143rd of 174.

What is the employment rate in Honduras?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 53.8%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 53.0% (2020) to 62.7% (2018). It is 24th highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 59.4%. Worldwide: 120th of 174.

What is vulnerable employment in Honduras?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Honduras was 33.9% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 41.2%; its low point was 2016, at 33.2%. It is 12th highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 29.8%. Worldwide: 77th of 174.

What share of jobs in Honduras are salaried?

The ILO puts the share of workers who are paid employees in Honduras at 55.9% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 48.7% (2012) to 57.3% (2016). It is 23rd highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 64.8%. Worldwide: 109th of 174.