The Ministry of Education announced on March 17 that there are 30 priority careers identified as essential for regional development in Peru, according to a recent study by the Center for the Analysis of Public Policy in Higher Education (Cappes) and Universidad Científica del Sur. These careers are available through the Beca 18-2026 scholarship program.
This information is important because each region in Peru has its own economic dynamics, which shape the demand for specific professional profiles. The study, titled “Demanda de profesionales a nivel regional: elegir qué estudiar y dónde trabajar mirando el territorio,” divides these professions into three main groups based on regional economic characteristics.
Education Minister Erfurt Castillo said, “It is important to choose your profession well, since, as evidenced by Pronabec surveys of its beneficiaries, students who are satisfied with their studies pass their courses with greater ability, which helps reduce dropout risks.”
The first group includes twelve regions with economies focused on extraction or primary exports—such as Áncash, Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna, Cajamarca, Pasco, Junín, Huancavelica, Apurímac, Cusco and Loreto—where mining engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering and civil engineering are most sought after. In Moquegua specifically, mechanical engineering can offer monthly salaries above S/5700—more than double the national average—and high levels of job formality and employment.
A second group consists of four regions with diversified economies led by services: Lima, Tumbes, Piura and Lambayeque. Here civil engineering stands out in Lima with an average salary near S/4900 per month and a formal employment rate of 72%. Other popular fields include industrial engineering, administration, accounting, law and information technology.
The third group covers eight regions whose economies revolve around renewable natural resources and agro-export chains—including La Libertad, Huánuco, Ayacucho, Puno, Amazonas, San Martín, Ucayali and Madre de Dios—where agronomy-related fields are prominent. In San Martín and Madre de Dios agricultural professions offer average incomes close to S/2900 per month; in Huánuco industrial engineering shows very high employment rates.
More details about these findings can be found in the full study online or through Pronabec’s official channels. The Ministry encourages prospective students to review educational offerings under Beca 18-2026.
