In an era defined by heightening security concerns, one would expect the role of a security guard to be one of the most sought-after professions in Peru. Yet, a striking paradox has emerged within the national labor market: while the demand for private security personnel is at an all-time high, companies are struggling to find the workers needed to fill these vital roles.
According to the 2026 Occupational Demand Survey conducted by the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (MTPE), the position of a security guard has surged to the top of the list of in-demand jobs. However, as Miguel Vegas, the Vice Minister of Employment Promotion, recently revealed, this demand remains largely unmet. Despite the implementation of nationwide job fairs and modernized recruitment platforms, thousands of positions remain vacant, highlighting a disconnect between labor supply and the realities of the modern security profession.
The Anatomy of a Labor Shortage
The core of the issue lies in the nature of the work versus the competitive landscape of the broader Peruvian economy. As Vice Minister Vegas explained in an interview with RPP’s Economía para Todos, the scarcity of candidates is not for a lack of job availability, but rather for a lack of candidate willingness to accept the terms associated with the roles.
“One of the most demanded positions today is that of a security guard. And although it seems incredible, in a country like ours, sometimes you can’t find them; you can’t manage to cover all the vacancies,” Vegas noted.
The Competitive Disadvantage
The primary challenge is that the security sector is currently losing the battle for talent against other industries. The agro-industrial sector, for example, has become a fierce competitor. Although many agro-industrial jobs are seasonal, they often offer more attractive immediate compensation packages and, in many cases, more flexible working conditions than the rigid requirements of private security firms.
The Burden of Geography and Schedule
Beyond salary disparities, the physical and logistical demands of security roles—particularly in the mining sector—serve as a major deterrent for potential employees. A significant portion of the current vacancies is tied to mining operations and remote industrial camps. These roles require not just physical vigilance, but a lifestyle sacrifice that many job seekers are unwilling or unable to make.
"One of the positions that is in the highest demand is not necessarily here in the city, but in the mines," Vegas explained. "They have to work in shifts and spend 20 days away from their homes."
For a segment of the workforce, the prospect of being isolated from family life for nearly three weeks at a time, combined with the rigorous nature of security work, makes these positions unattractive compared to urban-based roles, even if the urban roles offer slightly lower pay.
Strategic Interventions: The Role of the MTPE
Recognizing that the labor shortage could have broader implications for national safety and industrial productivity, the Ministry of Labor is moving to bridge this gap through strategic public-private cooperation.
A New Pipeline: Integrating Armed Forces Graduates
The MTPE is currently finalizing a pivotal agreement with the Ministry of Defense. The goal is to facilitate the direct transition of individuals who have completed their compulsory military service into the private security sector.
Each year, approximately 10,000 young men and women complete their voluntary military service in two cycles of 5,000. These individuals represent a "gold mine" for the security industry: they already possess the necessary discipline, physical fitness, and tactical training required for high-risk security environments.
“Every six months, around 5,000 young people finish their voluntary military service, and we are coordinating so that they can access these jobs,” Vegas stated. By creating a direct pipeline, the Ministry hopes to solve two problems at once: providing immediate, stable employment for veterans and filling the critical gaps in the security infrastructure that businesses are currently struggling to bridge.
Scaling Up: The Landscape of Job Fairs
The struggle to fill security roles is unfolding against a backdrop of a broader, more successful push to reactivate the labor market. During the first quarter of 2026 alone, the MTPE organized 54 job fairs across the country. These events brought together more than 465 companies and offered approximately 23,000 positions across various sectors.
The National Employment Week
A cornerstone of the government’s labor strategy is the "National Employment Week," an initiative formalized to take place during the final week of March every year. During this week, the Ministry consolidates efforts to offer nearly 15,000 jobs simultaneously. This event is designed to act as a catalyst for the labor market, providing a centralized venue where the mismatch between supply and demand can be addressed in real-time.
Technological Transformation: Bridging the Gap with AI
The Ministry of Labor is not relying solely on physical events to solve the employment puzzle. In an effort to modernize how Peruvians find work, the MTPE has launched a comprehensive digital ecosystem.
The "Eventos Empleos Perú" Platform
The new digital portal, "Eventos Empleos Perú," serves as a centralized hub for job seekers. It provides real-time information on upcoming job fairs, lists of participating companies, and detailed breakdowns of current vacancies. This transparency is intended to reduce the "information friction" that often prevents job seekers from finding roles that match their skill sets and geographical availability.
AI-Driven Curriculum Development
Perhaps the most ambitious step the Ministry has taken is the integration of Artificial Intelligence into the job application process. Recognizing that many candidates struggle to translate their experience into a professional format that resonates with recruiters, the MTPE is rolling out an AI-powered tool to assist in the creation of digital curricula.
This tool analyzes a candidate’s background and optimizes their resume to match the specific requirements of the roles they are pursuing. By helping candidates present themselves more effectively, the Ministry aims to increase the "hireability" of the workforce, particularly for specialized roles like security, where certain certifications and soft skills are mandatory.
Economic and Social Implications
The inability to fill security positions carries profound implications for the Peruvian economy. In the mining sector—the backbone of the nation’s exports—security is not merely a service; it is a vital operational requirement. Without sufficient security personnel, the integrity of these sites, the protection of assets, and the safety of the workers themselves are compromised.
Furthermore, as the country faces a general uptick in security concerns, the private sector’s inability to staff security roles places an increased burden on public law enforcement. If private firms cannot secure their own perimeters, the state is forced to allocate more resources to general public safety, stretching police forces thin.
The Future Outlook
The labor market in 2026 is clearly in a state of transition. While sectors like agro-industry are winning the competition for general labor, the specialized nature of security, coupled with the logistical challenges of mining, has created a niche shortage that requires targeted policy intervention.
The MTPE’s strategy—combining military-to-civilian pipelines, digital platforms, and AI-driven resume support—represents a modern approach to a classic economic problem. However, the success of these measures will ultimately depend on whether companies are willing to adjust their compensation models to reflect the difficult nature of the work. As long as the "cost of absence" (the risks associated with an empty security post) remains lower than the "cost of higher wages," the shortage may persist.
As the Ministry of Labor continues its push, the focus will remain on whether these systemic improvements can attract the next generation of security professionals. For now, the "paradox of protection" remains one of the most critical challenges facing the Peruvian labor market, serving as a reminder that even in a high-demand climate, the terms of employment remain the ultimate arbiter of success.
