What share of workers in Azuay have adequate employment?

44.9% of the economically active population in Azuay had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 3rd highest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 44.2%.

Economy, jobs and prices in Azuay, Ecuador: official figures

The unemployment rate in Azuay was 2.5% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 10th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 3.4%.

Unemployment rate

2.5%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$5.3 billion

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Azuay?

The underemployment rate in Azuay was 10.0% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 2nd lowest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 11.0%.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

How big is the informal sector in Azuay?

The informal sector accounted for 47.2% of employment in Azuay in 2025, below the national figure of 51.5%; 4th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 45.1%.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

How many people in Azuay work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Azuay was 9.9% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 11th lowest of the 24 provinces. Unpaid work covers people who earn no labour income, such as unpaid family workers.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

What is the labour force participation rate in Azuay?

The labour force participation rate in Azuay was 69.3% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 10th highest of the 24 provinces. Participation counts people aged 15 and over who work or look for work.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

How large is the economy of Azuay?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Azuay at US$5.3 billion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 4.6% of the national US$115.1 billion; 5th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Azuay growing?

Gross value added in Azuay was US$5.0 billion in 2023 and US$5.3 billion in 2024, a change of +7.3% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is +14.5% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 10th highest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Azuay?

Gross value added per person in Azuay was US$6,414 in 2024 (provisional), above the national average of US$6,407; 8th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$5,753.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Azuay?

The largest activity group in the economy of Azuay in 2024 was wholesale and retail trade, with 16.9% of gross value added. Other groups: manufacturing 15.5%, public administration and defence 8.9%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Azuay?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 2.1% of gross value added in Azuay in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 4th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Azuay comes from oil and mining?

Oil and mining accounted for 4.8% of gross value added in Azuay in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 7th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Azuay is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 8.9% of gross value added in Azuay in 2024 and education 5.7%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 9th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Azuay compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Azuay ranks 10 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
7	El Oro	3.9%
8	Canar	3.6%
9	Galapagos	3.1%
10	Azuay	2.5%
11	Guayas	2.5%
12	Manabi	2.5%
13	Cotopaxi	2.1%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Azuay ranks 3 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
1	Galapagos	59.6%
2	Pichincha	53.0%
3	Azuay	44.9%
4	El Oro	42.6%
5	Guayas	41.3%
6	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	39.4%
7	Los Rios	32.5%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

Underemployment rate (2025)

Azuay ranks 23 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
18	Zamora Chinchipe	14.7%
19	Loja	14.2%
20	Canar	13.8%
21	Pichincha	13.0%
22	Morona Santiago	11.5%
23	Azuay	10.0%
24	Galapagos	6.8%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Azuay ranks 21 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
18	Tungurahua	52.0%
19	Guayas	51.9%
20	Los Rios	51.4%
21	Azuay	47.2%
22	El Oro	43.3%
23	Pichincha	28.4%
24	Galapagos	16.2%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) · saved copy

Gross value added (current US$ million) (2024 (provisional))

Azuay ranks 5 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
2	Pichincha	US$29,759 million
3	Manabi	US$6,377 million
4	Orellana	US$6,045 million
5	Azuay	US$5,331 million
6	Los Rios	US$4,380 million
7	El Oro	US$3,916 million
8	Sucumbios	US$3,192 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Gross value added per person (US$) (2024 (provisional))

Azuay ranks 8 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
5	Pichincha	US$9,094
6	Pastaza	US$7,504
7	Guayas	US$7,435
8	Azuay	US$6,414
9	El Oro	US$5,231
10	Los Rios	US$4,522
11	Tungurahua	US$4,417

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices) (2024 (provisional))

Azuay ranks 10 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
7	Guayas	+16.7%
8	El Oro	+15.7%
9	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	+15.5%
10	Azuay	+14.5%
11	Pastaza	+14.2%
12	Santa Elena	+12.9%
13	Sucumbios	+12.1%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added (2024 (provisional))

Azuay ranks 21 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
18	Galapagos	4.3%
19	Sucumbios	4.2%
20	Pichincha	3.1%
21	Azuay	2.1%
22	Orellana	1.6%
23	Pastaza	1.5%
24	Zamora Chinchipe	0.9%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Oil and mining share of value added (2024 (provisional))

Azuay ranks 7 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
4	Pastaza	61.6%
5	Napo	10.0%
6	El Oro	8.7%
7	Azuay	4.8%
8	Santa Elena	4.7%
9	Imbabura	1.0%
10	Morona Santiago	0.9%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Public administration and defence share of value added (2024 (provisional))

Azuay ranks 16 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
13	Zamora Chinchipe	11.0%
14	Tungurahua	10.3%
15	Esmeraldas	10.1%
16	Azuay	8.9%
17	El Oro	8.5%
18	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	8.2%
19	Sucumbios	7.6%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Azuay: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Ecuador

Sources

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC): ENEMDU Anual 2025 (Encuesta Nacional de Empleo, Desempleo y Subempleo): tabulados de mercado laboral, educación, vivienda, pobreza y desigualdad por provincia, 2018-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f969666762d3…)
Banco Central del Ecuador: Valor Agregado Bruto per cápita provincial y cantonal 2018-2024(p), Cuentas Nacionales Regionales, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7cc7b914bc8b…)
Banco Central del Ecuador: Cuentas Provinciales 2024(p): valor agregado bruto por industria, valores corrientes, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bfee6bc272cc…)

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