The regime’s ‘15,000 jobs’ clash with the reality of small businesses Small business owners in Nicaragua are facing declining sales and financial difficulties, with many unable to afford salaries or social security contributions. These personal accounts contrast sharply with official government reports highlighting job creation and economic growth. Data suggests that a significant portion of these “employed” individuals are in informal or precarious work situations.

• Two entrepreneurs, Sara and Eugenia, share their struggles with their small businesses (screen printing and a pharmacy) experiencing falling sales and income.
• They report difficulties in sustaining salaries, covering operating costs, and maintaining social security affiliations for their employees.
• The testimonies contradict the Nicaraguan government’s claims of significant job creation and economic improvement.
• Official statistics, such as the Monthly Employment Survey, show high net occupation rates but also indicate widespread underemployment and a decline in labor force participation.
• The government’s narrative of job creation through 1560 entrepreneurships is challenged by data showing these businesses often operate informally and function as survival mechanisms rather than stable employment sources.
• Formal employment remains concentrated in traditional sectors, while small businesses and trades show low levels of formal social security enrollment. https://www.divergentes.com/los-15-mil-empleos-creados-del-regimen-chocan-con-la-realidad-de-los-pequenos-negocios/