Ecuador: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Ecuador?

Ecuador's unemployment rate was 3.1% in May 2026, down from 4.1% in May 2025, according to the INEC's employment survey (ENEMDU), about 86,000 fewer unemployed people. The labour force was 8.9 million, and the participation rate 65.9%.

Low unemployment sits alongside widespread underemployment and informal work. Only 36.6% of the labour force had adequate employment, meaning full-time work at or above the minimum wage, while 18.3% were underemployed. For young people aged 18 to 29, unemployment was 7.9% in May 2026. The INEC publishes the survey each month on its labour statistics page.

Official sources: employment survey (ENEMDU) · unemployment was 7.9% · labour statistics page

What is the minimum wage in Ecuador in 2026?

Ecuador's unified basic wage (salario básico unificado, SBU) is USD 482 a month in 2026, USD 12 more than in 2025, according to the Ministry of Labour.

The rate was agreed on 15 December 2025 in the National Labour and Wages Council, where government, employers and workers sit together; the ministry says it was the first agreement between all three sides in nine years. The SBU is the general monthly floor for full-time work. Sector minimums for particular jobs are published on the ministry's wages site.

Official sources: Ministry of Labour · wages site

What is the average salary in Ecuador?

The average salary in jobs registered with social security was USD 837.7 a month in May 2026, according to the INEC's register of employment in social security (REESS). 3,409,283 people were in registered employment that month.

The register covers only formal jobs. Across all workers, including informal and self-employed workers, average monthly labour income was USD 471 in May 2026, according to the ENEMDU employment survey: USD 516 in urban areas and USD 365 in rural areas. The gap between the two measures reflects the large share of people working outside formal, contributory employment.

Official sources: register of employment in social security (REESS) · ENEMDU employment survey

How many people work in the informal sector in Ecuador?

52.8% of employed people in Ecuador worked in the informal sector in May 2026, according to the INEC's employment survey (ENEMDU). The share was 76% in rural areas and 40% in urban areas, and was little changed from a year earlier.

The INEC's methodology for measuring employment in the informal sector is set out on its labour statistics page. The informal sector is a different measure from adequate employment, which was 36.6% of the labour force in the same month.

Official sources: employment survey (ENEMDU) · labour statistics page

What is the minimum wage in Ecuador?

$39 a month: that is the statutory minimum wage in Ecuador for 2024, according to the ILO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2012.

What is the average wage in Ecuador?

In 2025, average monthly earnings of employees in Ecuador was $538 a month, according to the ILO. No year since 2012 has been higher. Latin America & Caribbean median: $523 a month; Ecuador is 7th highest of 14. World rank, highest first: 41st of 57.

What is the unemployment rate in Ecuador?

3.3%: that is the unemployment rate in Ecuador for 2025, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.1% (2013) to 6.1% (2020). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 6.0%, and Ecuador placed 23rd highest of 29. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 125th highest.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Ecuador?

8.2%: that is unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Ecuador for 2025, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 11.1%; its low point was 2007, at 7.0%. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 14.0%, and Ecuador placed 24th highest of 29. Worldwide: 126th of 174.

How many people in Ecuador are working or looking for work?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate in Ecuador was 64.5%, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 60.0% (2020) to 68.2% (2017). Latin America & Caribbean median: 63.4%; Ecuador is 13th highest of 29. Worldwide: 68th of 174.

What is female labour force participation in Ecuador?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate for women in Ecuador was 52.4%, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2017, at 56.2%; its low point was 2011, at 47.1%. Latin America & Caribbean median: 52.5%; Ecuador is 16th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 98th of 174.

What is the employment rate in Ecuador?

According to the ILO, the employment to population ratio in Ecuador was 62.4% in 2025. The peak was 65.5% in 2017 and the low 56.4% in 2020. It is 7th highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 59.4%. World rank, highest first: 54th of 174.

How many workers in Ecuador are self-employed or family workers?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Ecuador was 50.1% in 2025. The peak was 52.2% in 2021 and the low 42.7% in 2008. Latin America & Caribbean median: 29.8%; Ecuador is 3rd highest of 29. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 52nd highest.

What share of jobs in Ecuador are salaried?

The ILO puts the share of workers who are paid employees in Ecuador at 47.7% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 54.2%; its low point was 2021, at 45.5%. It is 27th highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 64.8%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 120th highest.