What share of workers in Loja have adequate employment?

26.8% of the economically active population in Loja had adequate employment in 2025 (full-time work at or above the minimum wage), against 37.1% nationally; 10th lowest of the 24 provinces. The 2019 figure was 26.9%.

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

The unemployment rate in Loja was 4.0% in 2025, above the national rate of 3.6%; 6th highest of the 24 provinces. In 2019 it was 3.6%.

Unemployment rate

4.0%

2025

Gross value added (US$ million, current prices)

US$1.8 billion

2024 (provisional)

What is the underemployment rate in Loja?

The underemployment rate in Loja was 14.2% in 2025 (national 19.4%), 6th lowest of the 24 provinces; in 2019 it was 16.7%.

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

How big is the informal sector in Loja?

The informal sector accounted for 60.0% of employment in Loja in 2025, above the national figure of 51.5%; 11th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was 61.3%.

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

How many people in Loja work without pay?

The unpaid employment rate in Loja was 16.2% in 2025 (national 8.8%), 9th highest 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 Loja?

The labour force participation rate in Loja was 67.7% in 2025 against 64.3% nationally, 11th 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 Loja?

The Banco Central del Ecuador puts the gross value added of Loja at US$1.8 billion in 2024 (provisional, current prices), 1.5% of the national US$115.1 billion; 12th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

Is the economy of Loja growing?

Gross value added in Loja was US$1.9 billion in 2023 and US$1.8 billion in 2024, a change of -5.3% against +1.2% nationally. Compared with 2019 (before the pandemic) it is +9.5% in current prices (+14.0% nationally); 10th lowest growth of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What is the GDP per person in Loja?

Gross value added per person in Loja was US$3,570 in 2024 (provisional), below the national average of US$6,407; 7th lowest of the 24 provinces. In 2018 it was US$3,067.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

What are the main industries in Loja?

The largest activity group in the economy of Loja in 2024 was education, with 23.3% of gross value added. Other groups: wholesale and retail trade 13.9%, manufacturing 4.2%, public administration and defence 16.5%.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Loja?

Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing accounted for 5.7% of gross value added in Loja in 2024, against 9.9% across the provinces; 9th lowest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Oil and mining accounted for 0.5% of gross value added in Loja in 2024 (all provinces together: 8.7%); 11th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How much of the economy of Loja is public administration?

Public administration and defence made up 16.5% of gross value added in Loja in 2024 and education 23.3%, against 7.5% and 5.1% across the provinces; for public administration it is 5th highest of the 24 provinces.

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

How Loja compares with other provinces

Unemployment rate (2025)

Loja ranks 6 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate
3	Sucumbios	6.5%
4	Imbabura	6.1%
5	Carchi	4.9%
6	Loja	4.0%
7	El Oro	3.9%
8	Canar	3.6%
9	Galapagos	3.1%

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

Adequate employment rate (2025)

Loja ranks 15 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Adequate employment rate
12	Imbabura	29.3%
13	Manabi	29.3%
14	Sucumbios	27.6%
15	Loja	26.8%
16	Cotopaxi	25.7%
17	Esmeraldas	25.0%
18	Bolivar	24.9%

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

Underemployment rate (2025)

Loja ranks 19 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Underemployment rate
16	Sucumbios	15.7%
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%

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

Informal sector share of employment (2025)

Loja ranks 14 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Informal sector share of employment
11	Sucumbios	61.5%
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%

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

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

Loja ranks 13 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added (current US$ million)
10	Esmeraldas	US$2,087 million
11	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas	US$2,043 million
12	Cotopaxi	US$1,852 million
13	Loja	US$1,776 million
14	Zamora Chinchipe	US$1,684 million
15	Imbabura	US$1,606 million
16	Santa Elena	US$1,526 million

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Loja ranks 18 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross value added per person (US$)
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
21	Imbabura	US$3,252

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Loja ranks 15 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Change in gross value added, 2019 to 2024 (current prices)
12	Santa Elena	+12.9%
13	Sucumbios	+12.1%
14	Orellana	+11.9%
15	Loja	+9.5%
16	Canar	+8.7%
17	Cotopaxi	+6.8%
18	Pichincha	+6.1%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Loja ranks 16 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing share of value added
13	Imbabura	8.8%
14	Guayas	8.4%
15	Napo	8.2%
16	Loja	5.7%
17	Santa Elena	4.9%
18	Galapagos	4.3%
19	Sucumbios	4.2%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Loja ranks 11 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Oil and mining share of value added
8	Santa Elena	4.7%
9	Imbabura	1.0%
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%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

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

Loja ranks 5 of 24, highest first.

Rank	Region	Public administration and defence share of value added
2	Napo	21.0%
3	Galapagos	18.1%
4	Chimborazo	17.1%
5	Loja	16.5%
6	Carchi	15.8%
7	Canar	15.7%
8	Imbabura	14.0%

Source: Banco Central del Ecuador · saved copy

More on Loja: 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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