What share of workers in Canar have adequate employment?

31.7% of the economically active population in Canar had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 9th highest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 30.9%.

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

The unemployment rate in Canar was 3.6% in 2025, the same as rate of 3.6%; 8th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 3.9%.

Unemployment rate

3.6%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$857 million

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Canar?

The underemployment rate in Canar was 13.8% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 5th lowest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 15.7%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Canar?

The informal sector accounted for 56.4% of employment in Canar in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 10th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 57.7%.

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

How many people in Canar work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Canar was 13.5% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 12th 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 Canar?

The labour force participation rate in Canar was 71.7% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 9th 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 Canar?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Canar at US$857 million in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 0.7% of the national US$115.1 billion; 6th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Canar growing?

Gross value added in Canar was US$785 million in 2023 and US$857 million in 2024, a change of +9.3% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is +8.7% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 9th lowest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Canar?

Gross value added per person in Canar was US$3,611 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 8th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$3,377.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Canar?

The largest activity group in the economy of Canar in 2024 was public administration and defence, with 15.7% of gross value added. Other groups: wholesale and retail trade 12.8%, manufacturing 15.1%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Canar?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 11.0% of gross value added in Canar in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 10th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.1% of gross value added in Canar in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 6th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Canar is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 15.7% of gross value added in Canar in 2024 and education 11.0%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 7th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Canar compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Canar ranks 8 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
5	Carchi	4.9%
6	Loja	4.0%
7	El Oro	3.9%
8	Canar	3.6%
9	Galapagos	3.1%
10	Azuay	2.5%
11	Guayas	2.5%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Canar ranks 9 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
6	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	39.4%
7	Los Rios	32.5%
8	Zamora Chinchipe	32.1%
9	Canar	31.7%
10	Santa Elena	31.5%
11	Tungurahua	30.5%
12	Imbabura	29.3%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Canar ranks 20 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
17	Carchi	15.0%
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%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Canar ranks 15 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
12	Esmeraldas	61.5%
13	Carchi	60.4%
14	Loja	60.0%
15	Canar	56.4%
16	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	54.6%
17	Imbabura	54.2%
18	Tungurahua	52.0%

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

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

Canar ranks 19 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
16	Santa Elena	US$1,526 million
17	Chimborazo	US$1,339 million
18	Pastaza	US$893 million
19	Canar	US$857 million
20	Bolivar	US$626 million
21	Napo	US$589 million
22	Carchi	US$581 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Canar ranks 17 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
14	Cotopaxi	US$3,786
15	Santa Elena	US$3,783
16	Manabi	US$3,753
17	Canar	US$3,611
18	Loja	US$3,570
19	Esmeraldas	US$3,468
20	Carchi	US$3,266

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Canar ranks 16 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
13	Sucumbios	+12.1%
14	Orellana	+11.9%
15	Loja	+9.5%
16	Canar	+8.7%
17	Cotopaxi	+6.8%
18	Pichincha	+6.1%
19	Imbabura	+1.7%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Canar ranks 10 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
7	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	20.0%
8	Manabi	17.6%
9	Chimborazo	13.1%
10	Canar	11.0%
11	Morona Santiago	9.5%
12	Tungurahua	8.9%
13	Imbabura	8.8%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Canar ranks 19 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
16	Bolivar	0.2%
17	Chimborazo	0.1%
18	Manabi	0.1%
19	Canar	0.1%
20	Pichincha	0.1%
21	Esmeraldas	0.0%
22	Tungurahua	0.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Canar ranks 7 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
4	Chimborazo	17.1%
5	Loja	16.5%
6	Carchi	15.8%
7	Canar	15.7%
8	Imbabura	14.0%
9	Pastaza	12.9%
10	Santa Elena	12.3%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Canar: 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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