What share of workers in Guayas have adequate employment?

41.3% of the economically active population in Guayas had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 5th highest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 45.0%.

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

The unemployment rate in Guayas was 2.5% in 2025, below the national rate of 3.6%; 11th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 3.1%.

Unemployment rate

2.5%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$35.2 billion

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Guayas?

The underemployment rate in Guayas was 22.9% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 5th highest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 21.8%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Guayas?

The informal sector accounted for 51.9% of employment in Guayas in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 6th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 45.3%.

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

How many people in Guayas work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Guayas was 2.9% in 2025 (national 8.8%), the 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 Guayas?

The labour force participation rate in Guayas was 57.5% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 3rd lowest 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 Guayas?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Guayas at US$35.2 billion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 30.6% of the national US$115.1 billion; the highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Guayas growing?

Gross value added in Guayas was US$35.8 billion in 2023 and US$35.2 billion in 2024, a change of -1.7% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is +16.7% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 7th highest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Guayas?

Gross value added per person in Guayas was US$7,435 in 2024 (provisional), above the national average of US$6,407; 7th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$6,685.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Guayas?

The largest activity group in the economy of Guayas in 2024 was manufacturing, with 20.1% of gross value added. Other groups: wholesale and retail trade 19.2%, public administration and defence 4.9%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Guayas?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 8.4% of gross value added in Guayas in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 11th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.3% of gross value added in Guayas in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 12th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Guayas is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 4.9% of gross value added in Guayas in 2024 and education 3.9%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 2nd lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Guayas compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Guayas ranks 11 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
8	Canar	3.6%
9	Galapagos	3.1%
10	Azuay	2.5%
11	Guayas	2.5%
12	Manabi	2.5%
13	Cotopaxi	2.1%
14	Pastaza	2.1%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Guayas ranks 5 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
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%
8	Zamora Chinchipe	32.1%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Guayas ranks 5 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
2	Los Rios	28.4%
3	Santa Elena	27.2%
4	Napo	25.3%
5	Guayas	22.9%
6	Esmeraldas	22.6%
7	Cotopaxi	20.5%
8	El Oro	20.5%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Guayas ranks 19 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
16	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	54.6%
17	Imbabura	54.2%
18	Tungurahua	52.0%
19	Guayas	51.9%
20	Los Rios	51.4%
21	Azuay	47.2%
22	El Oro	43.3%

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

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

Guayas ranks 1 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
1	Guayas	US$35,240 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

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Guayas ranks 7 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
4	Galapagos	US$9,860
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

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Guayas ranks 7 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
4	Manabi	+30.2%
5	Morona Santiago	+25.2%
6	Napo	+18.3%
7	Guayas	+16.7%
8	El Oro	+15.7%
9	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	+15.5%
10	Azuay	+14.5%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Guayas ranks 14 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
11	Morona Santiago	9.5%
12	Tungurahua	8.9%
13	Imbabura	8.8%
14	Guayas	8.4%
15	Napo	8.2%
16	Loja	5.7%
17	Santa Elena	4.9%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Guayas ranks 13 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
10	Morona Santiago	0.9%
11	Loja	0.5%
12	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	0.3%
13	Guayas	0.3%
14	Cotopaxi	0.2%
15	Carchi	0.2%
16	Bolivar	0.2%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Guayas ranks 23 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
18	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	8.2%
19	Sucumbios	7.6%
20	Los Rios	7.3%
21	Bolivar	6.3%
22	Pichincha	6.2%
23	Guayas	4.9%
24	Orellana	3.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Guayas: 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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