Impact of the Cuna Más Program on the Labor Insertion of Beneficiary Women in the Province of Cusco Perú, 2019–2022

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of the National Program Cuna Más, through its Daycare Service, on the labor insertion of beneficiary women in the province of Cusco, Peru, during the 2019–2022 period. The objective was to determine the program’s influence on employability and the economic stability of participants. The population consisted of 845 working-age women, from which a probabilistic sample of 206 beneficiaries was selected. Structured surveys were applied, complemented by secondary data from MIDIS. The research followed an applied methodology with a quantitative approach and a non-experimental, descriptive–correlational design. Results show that female unemployment decreased from 21% in 2019 to 12% in 2022; also, 79% of women gained employment after joining the program, and 93% reported they were unable to work before participating. An increase in income and greater access to full-time jobs were observed, although employment remains largely short-term. The study concludes that the program positively affected labor insertion and income generation, but limitations related to informality and job sustainability persist. These findings highlight the need to strengthen public policies aimed at work–childcare reconciliation and female employment formalization.