Ecuador's Amazon oil activity generates nearly 37,000 jobs

Oil operations in Ecuador's Amazon region have created a significant number of jobs, generating 36,983 employment opportunities between November 2023 and the first quarter of 2026. Petroamazonas, the state-owned oil company, and its contractors reported these figures for the provinces of Orellana and Sucumbíos, areas central to the country's oil production.

The impact on local economies is substantial, with 82.44% of the total hires being Amazonian labor. This figure surpasses the employment quotas mandated by the Organic Law for the Integral Planning of the Amazonian Special Territorial Circumscription, demonstrating a commitment to prioritizing local workforce development.

Jobs spanned various sectors crucial to the oil industry, including operations, maintenance, logistics, transportation, catering, and infrastructure services related to hydrocarbon exploration and production. This employment boom ensures that a considerable portion of the industry's revenue remains within the communities adjacent to the oil fields.

Orellana province recorded the highest number of jobs with 26,509, while Sucumbíos registered 10,474. Petroamazonas General Manager Sebastián Maag Pardo emphasized that fostering local employment is among the most significant advantages of the oil sector for the Amazon. He stated that ensuring job opportunities reach communities near operational sites is a primary objective.

Petroamazonas currently manages 25 oil blocks and is responsible for approximately 80% of Ecuador's total crude oil and natural gas production. The company asserts that meeting local hiring percentages strengthens the involvement of Amazonian communities in the nation's energy sector development.

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The generation of local employment constitutes one of the most important benefits of oil activity for the Amazonian region. The priority is that job opportunities reach the communities located in the areas of influence of the operations.