What the Activa Study Found About Peru's Second-Income Hunt

A new study by the Peruvian research firm Activa shows a striking gap between optimism and current earning power. While 65% of Peruvians expect their personal economic situation to be much better within 12 months, 58% of respondents say they are actively looking for an additional activity or job to generate a second income. The search is led mainly by people over 30 in socioeconomic levels B, C and D, while 9% say they already have a second income source — a group concentrated among respondents over 45 in the highest-income segment A.

The pressure is not uniform. Hilario Chong Shing, head of Activa’s customer experience unit, noted that nearly 40% of Peruvians say their salary only covers essential expenses, making extra income an obligation. But he also stressed that a second income should not be seen only as a survival strategy for low-income households: for higher-income families it can be a form of asset diversification, consulting, entrepreneurship or investment.

When Peruvians decide to start a venture, the survey points to food as the dominant route: restaurants, fast food, bakeries, pastry shops, cafés, bars and similar gastronomic businesses. Clothing, footwear, accessories and general commerce — including imports, exports and online sales — are also popular. Chong Shing says these categories are favored because consumers have everyday experience with them and the business model is easier to imagine than more specialized sectors such as technology, health or agriculture.

Artificial intelligence is now part of the picture: 20% of Peruvians, particularly in segment A, say they have used AI in a business or venture that generated income. Another 51% use AI but have not yet turned it into money, a group concentrated among young people aged 18 to 44 in levels B, C and D.

Why Side Hustles and AI Are Converging in Peru

Why Peru's Second-Income Push Is No Longer Only a Low-Income Story

The numbers separate two very different motives. For the nearly 40% whose salary only covers essentials, a second income is defensive: it closes a monthly gap. But Activa's finding that 9% already have a second income — skewed toward older, segment A respondents — supports Chong Shing's point that this is also a strategy of economic diversification. The interpretation here is that higher-income households are not searching for survival; they are looking for additional asset, consulting or entrepreneurial income. The survey does not reveal how many of those 9% are survival cases versus diversification cases, but the demographic skew suggests the second group is meaningful.

Why Food and Online Retail Win the Startup List

The preference for gastronomy and general commerce is a low-barrier phenomenon. A family restaurant or online store requires less specialized technical knowledge than health, technology or agriculture, and customers already understand how a bakery or café works. The rise of online sales platforms lowers the entry cost further: sellers can create a store and market products without building infrastructure. That dynamic explains the survey's pattern, but it also means competition is likely to be intense in precisely these easy-to-enter categories.

Where AI Is Gaining Traction — and Where It Still Isn't

AI use in Peruvian ventures is real but uneven. The 20% who have already monetized an AI-assisted business are concentrated in segment A, while the 51% who use AI without earning are largely younger and in levels B, C and D. Chong Shing describes AI entering first through commercial and creative tasks — advertising, marketing, graphic design, business ideas and research — where barriers are low and a business no longer needs an agency to produce a campaign. The more transformative uses, such as process automation, data analysis and financial management, remain smaller because they require greater technical complexity. The gap between using AI and converting it into economic value is the challenge the study identifies.

What Peruvians Can Do With Activa's Second-Income Findings

The findings point to practical options for households considering a second income in Peru:

  • If your salary only covers essentials — the situation Activa associates with almost 40% of Peruvians — start with a low-capital route the survey shows is most common: a home food business or online resale. These categories have the lowest entry barriers and require day-to-day experience rather than specialized training.
  • If you are already using AI but not earning from it — the position of 51% of respondents — shift from experimenting to selling a concrete output: use AI for design, marketing or research to support a small product or service, rather than waiting for complex automation capabilities.
  • If you are a professional or higher-income household — follow the diversification logic in the survey: consulting, investment or asset-building income, not just another job, can reduce dependence on a single salary.
  • For any food or retail venture — expect heavy competition because these are the most popular choices. The accessible business model cuts both ways: it is easy to start, but you will need a clear offer or niche to stand out.