41% of Companies in Quito and Guayaquil Can't Find Workers — BID Study Reveals Ecuador's Skills Gap

Nearly half of employers in Ecuador's two largest cities are struggling to fill open positions, according to a new study from the Inter-American Development Bank (BID).

The study — "¿Qué habilidades necesitan las empresas en Ecuador?" — surveyed 2,570 companies across Quito and Guayaquil between March and August 2024. The findings paint a detailed picture of Ecuador's labor market mismatch.

The Numbers

The skills gap averages 41% nationally — meaning 4 in 10 companies report difficulty filling vacancies:

• Quito: 39.2% of companies struggling
• Guayaquil: 42.7% of companies struggling

Services and commerce account for 80% of businesses and employ the majority of workers. Manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and mining lag significantly behind in both employment volume and hiring activity.

What Companies Want

The most in-demand competencies across both cities:

• Technical expertise specific to roles
• Digital competencies — Word, Excel, PowerPoint proficiency
• Regulatory knowledge — understanding of Ecuador-specific compliance
• Clear communication skills
• Literacy and basic professional readiness

Why Positions Stay Open

Three primary barriers emerged:

1. Inadequate work experience — candidates have education but not practical application
2. Insufficient technical and socio-emotional skills — a gap between academic training and workplace needs
3. Uncompetitive wage offers — companies can't or won't pay enough to attract qualified candidates

Youth Employment

Young workers (ages 18-29) are concentrated overwhelmingly in services — 62% in Quito and 49% in Guayaquil — with minimal presence in construction or agriculture. This suggests a generational shift away from traditional sectors.

What This Means for Expats

Job seekers and entrepreneurs: The skills gap represents opportunity. If you have strong digital competencies, technical expertise, or bilingual communication skills, you're positioned to fill gaps that local candidates can't. The demand for regulatory knowledge and compliance skills is particularly relevant for expats working in consulting, accounting, or business services.

Employers: If you're hiring in Ecuador, expect competition for qualified candidates. The 41% gap means good people have options. Wages are the number-one competitive lever — the study explicitly flags uncompetitive offers as a hiring barrier.

Families: If your spouse or partner is seeking employment, the services and commerce sectors offer the most opportunity. Digital skills are the clearest differentiator — even basic proficiency puts candidates ahead of many local applicants.

Source: El Universo