Impact of Labor Informality on Poverty Levels in La Libertad during the 2020–2024 Period

Abstract

This research contributes to Sustainable Development Goal No. 8: Decent work and economic growth, particularly Target 8.3, which promotes employment formalization. The general objective was to analyze the relationship between labor informality and poverty in the department of La Libertad during the period 2020–2024. A quantitative approach was used, with a non-experimental, longitudinal, and correlational design. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was applied to secondary data from INEI (ENAHO and EPEN) and ComexPerú. Results show that labor informality remained structurally high (around 73%) throughout the period. Both monetary and multidimensional poverty showed unstable trends, without sustained reduction after the pandemic. The correlation tests did not yield statistically significant results; however, strong emerging relationships were found between variables such as health affiliation and overcrowding, suggesting an indirect structural relationship. It is concluded that, although a statistically significant correlation was not verified, latent links exist between informality and poverty, which should be considered in the design of public policies aimed at labor formalization and structural poverty reduction.