Ecuador Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Ecuador's services employment was 50.93% in 2025, ranked 62nd globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Ecuador's services employment stood at 50.93% in 2025, a rise of +0.16% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 51.13% by 2026. Ecuador ranked 62nd globally.
Ecuador’s share of employment in services has risen modestly over the 35‑year span from 1991 to 2025, moving from 50.09 % to 50.93 % and ranking 62nd worldwide in the latest World Bank release. The sector’s highest share was recorded in 1995 at 55.40 %, a level that has not been approached since the all‑time low of 49.31 % in 2000, suggesting a long‑term plateau rather than sustained growth. Compared with peer economies of similar rank, Ecuador’s service employment is slightly above Liberia’s 50.53 % and below Comoros’s 51.65 %, indicating that its labour market structure aligns with other lower‑middle‑income countries that rely heavily on informal and agricultural work. The limited upward movement reflects structural constraints such as modest diversification and persistent informality, which have kept the services share near half of total employment. Continued investment in digital infrastructure and skill development could accelerate a shift toward higher‑value services, potentially raising the employment share beyond the current trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 51.03% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 51.08% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 51.13% | - | - |
| 2025 | 50.93% | +0.16% | #62 |
| 2024 | 50.77% | −1.77% | #62 |
| 2023 | 52.54% | +1.41% | #75 |
| 2022 | 51.13% | +0.14% | #70 |
| 2021 | 50.98% | −1.34% | #70 |
| 2020 | 52.32% | −0.88% | #74 |
| 2019 | 53.20% | +0.33% | #76 |
| 2018 | 52.87% | −1.09% | #77 |
| 2017 | 53.96% | −0.69% | #84 |
| 2016 | 54.65% | +0.24% | #85 |
| 2015 | 54.41% | −0.61% | #84 |
| 2014 | 55.02% | +0.53% | #86 |
| 2013 | 54.49% | −0.20% | #87 |
| 2012 | 54.69% | +0.57% | #87 |
| 2011 | 54.12% | +0.51% | #87 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ecuador matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ecuador's services employment was 50.93% in 2025. Ranked 62nd globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from the previous year.
Ecuador's services employment peaked at 55.40% in 1995.
The lowest services employment in Ecuador was 49.31% in 2000.
Ecuador ranks 62nd globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ecuador's services employment is projected to reach 51.13% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Ecuador in 2025 was 50.93%. This ranks 62nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ecuador_services-employment,
title = {Ecuador Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ecuador/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}