Workforce and Bilingual Talent in El Salvador
The labour market in 2025
| Indicator | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Labour force | 3,128,852 |
| Employed | 2,981,127 |
| Unemployed | 147,726 |
| Participation rate (share of people aged 16 and over in the labour force) | 63.6% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% |
Source: Central Reserve Bank: Multipurpose Household Survey (EHPM) 2025 (PDF, in Spanish)1
Headline unemployment is low, but much work is informal or part-time. The same survey puts urban underemployment at about 39% of the urban labour force, and the US State Department notes that 68% of workers have no social security benefits.2,5
English skills
- Score: 523 in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, up 10 points on the previous edition; the global average is 488.
- By skill: reading 541, listening 516, writing 495, speaking 491.
- Where and who: the top region is La Libertad (548) and the top age group is 31 to 40 (567).
Source: EF English Proficiency Index 2025: El Salvador3
The index is based on adults who chose to take the free online EF test, so EF itself says the sample is self-selected and not guaranteed to be representative. Test candidates yourself before you plan an English-language operation.9
Contact centres and BPO
Contact centres and business process outsourcing (BPO) are a main employer of bilingual staff. The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) said 10 member companies in the sector created more than 12,000 jobs in 2024. Hourly pay in contact centres ranges from about USD 2.80 to USD 6, above the minimum wage, according to local press.6,7
Minimum wages since 1 June 2025
| Sector | Monthly (USD) | Per hour (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce and services | 408.80 | 1.680 |
| Industry, sugar mills and agro-industry | 408.80 | 1.680 |
| Textile and apparel maquila | 402.32 | 1.653 |
| Coffee processing plants | 305.23 | 1.254 |
| Sugar cane harvesting | 305.23 | 1.254 |
| Agriculture, fishing and coffee harvesting | 272.53 | 1.120 |
Source: Executive Decree No. 11 of 2025: minimum wage rates (PDF, in Spanish)4
The minimum wage depends on the work the employee does, not on the sector of the company. Employers also pay social security and pension contributions on top of the wage.4,8
Labour rules to know
- Working week: 44 hours for day work.
- Local staff: at least 90% of plant and clerical staff must be Salvadoran.
- Remote work: the Telework Law of 2020 regulates working from home.
Source: US Department of State: 2026 Investment Climate Statement, El Salvador5
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is El Salvador’s labour force?
3,128,852 people in 2025, with unemployment of 4.7%, according to the household survey of the Central Reserve Bank.
How good is English in El Salvador?
El Salvador scored 523 in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, 47th of 123 countries and regions, in the moderate band.
What is the minimum wage in El Salvador?
The monthly minimum wage in commerce, services and industry has been USD 408.80 since June 2025.
Sources
- Central Reserve Bank: Multipurpose Household Survey (EHPM) 2025 (PDF, in Spanish)
- La Prensa Gráfica: 39% of the labour force is underemployed in El Salvador (in Spanish)
- EF English Proficiency Index 2025: El Salvador
- Executive Decree No. 11 of 2025: minimum wage rates (PDF, in Spanish)
- US Department of State: 2026 Investment Climate Statement, El Salvador
- Diario El Mundo: AmCham expects BPO and call centre companies to offer more than 12,000 jobs (in Spanish)
- El Salvador.com: call centres as an alternative to job scarcity (in Spanish)
- Consortium Legal: new minimum wages approved in El Salvador (in Spanish)
- EF English Proficiency Index 2025: full report and methodology (PDF)
Figures checked 8 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
