Abinader highlights record employment and rise in formal jobs

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader announced that by the first quarter of 2025, 5.1 million women will be employed in the Dominican Republic, with 2.3 million in formal jobs—representing 46.6% of the total—while 53.4% will be in informal employment. He emphasized that, for the first time, the female employment rate has surpassed 50%, reaching 50.6%.

At his Monday press conference, Abinader also reported the creation of 176,581 net new jobs between January and March 2024. He highlighted salary increases in key sectors such as free trade zones, tourism, and non-classified private companies, along with a continued reduction in poverty levels.

According to official figures, the general poverty rate has dropped to 18.05%, down 0.85 percentage points from the same period in 2024. Moderate poverty decreased to 15.89%, and extreme poverty fell to 2.17%, reflecting steady progress in economic and social indicators.