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Tables and Figures for: Salaried Labor Costs in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Ten - Year Update

By Social Protection and Labor Markets Division (VPS/SCL/SPL)

IDB Data Wall Dataset: Labor Costs and Formal Employment in Latin America and the Caribbean

The IDB Group Data Wall is a collection of figures and underlying quantitative data covering development topics across Latin America and the Caribbean. It includes salaried labor costs and provides data analysts, academic researchers, and policymakers with structured country-level data to study formal employment, labor costs, productivity, and informality in Latin America and the Caribbean. This dataset covers 19 countries and includes tables and figures from the IDB technical note on the cost of salaried formal labor. It reports three labor market indicators for 2013 and 2023: the average non-wage cost of salaried labor (NWC), the minimum cost of salaried labor (MCSL), and the cost of formalizing informal labor (CFIL). It also includes 2025 projections that reflect recent labor reforms in six countries. For data analysts, the dataset supports cross-country comparison, indicator tracking, and reproducible analysis of labor cost trends. For academic researchers, it provides evidence to study the relationship among labor regulation, productivity, informal employment, and formal job creation. For policymakers, it helps identify how non-wage labor costs and minimum labor costs affect incentives to formalize work and expand salaried employment across the region. The data show that labor costs in Latin America and the Caribbean have increased since 2013, with growing differences across countries. In 2023, the regional average NWC reached 51.1% of formal wages, the MCSL represented 43.1% of GDP per worker, and the CFIL showed that formalizing a worker cost, on average, 88% more than the informal wage.

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Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/qasbx3a4
License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Related Knowledge Product
Citation

Minaya, Auri (2026). Tables and Figures for: Salaried Labor Costs in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Ten - Year Update. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/qasbx3a4
Published date 2026-02-27
Modified date 2026-06-25
Tags/Keywords Labor Force · Formal Labor · Informal Labor · Wage · Labor Legislation · Minimum Wage · Gross Domestic Product · Job Stability · Rating · Labor Cost
Language
  1. English
Temporal coverage 2013-2025
Country
Honduras
Guatemala
Bolivia
Ecuador
Costa Rica
Peru
El Salvador
Panama
Jamaica
Colombia
Venezuela
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Uruguay
Dominican Republic
Trinidad & Tobago
Mexico
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Minaya, Auri
Data collection type Observational Data
Data structure Semistructured Data
Data notes

What is the overview and main features of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group data wall?

The dataset organizes quantitative data across multiple worksheets corresponding to Data Wall figures. It includes topics such as energy, infrastructure, health, education, labor markets, disasters, environment, productivity, taxation, social protection, and economic outlook.

How does the IDB Group use its Data Wall for transparency and accountability?

The dataset supports transparency by making the data behind Data Wall figures available for replication and further analysis.

Why does the IDB Group use a data wall for monitoring and evaluation?

The dataset supports monitoring and evaluation by making development indicators easier to reproduce, analyze, and compare across topics.

How reliable and up-to-date are the datasets on the IDB Group Data Wall (sources and update frequency)?

The dataset includes references to original sources and technical notes, but it does not provide a general update-frequency schedule.

Does the IDB Group's open data portal include project maps or geospatial project layers?

The dataset is part of the IDB open data ecosystem, but it does not include project maps or geospatial project layers.

What are the benefits of using a data wall for monitoring development projects?

The dataset can help users monitor development indicators by making the underlying data behind visualizations available for analysis and reporting.

What does the IDB Group data wall metrics for Latin America economic growth include?

The dataset includes development indicators related to growth, productivity, economic outlook, labor markets, infrastructure, and other topics relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean.

How can data scientists use the IDB Group data wall for research?

Data scientists can use the dataset to reproduce figures, explore indicators across worksheets, and conduct further analysis on development trends in Latin America and the Caribbean.

What is the impact of the IDB Data Wall on decision-making in Latin American development projects?

The dataset can inform decision-making by providing indicators on development challenges and trends, but it does not measure the Data Wall’s direct impact on project decisions.

How can government officials in LAC countries utilize IDB project data walls?

Government officials can use the dataset to review development indicators and support evidence-based policy discussions, but it does not provide project-level operational guidance.

How can a small NGO use the IDB Group Data Wall to prepare a funding or program proposal?

A small NGO can use the dataset to support proposals with evidence on development trends, challenges, and indicators in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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