Hydrocarbons account for about 39% of Equatorial Guinea's gross domestic product, 76% of exports and approximately 86% of state revenue. Production is capital-intensive, so its economic weight creates relatively few jobs. Hydrocarbon decline, the 2025 economic contraction, inflation and low private investment continue to put pressure on employment. Non-hydrocarbon activity includes timber, fisheries, beverages, manufacturing, construction, trade and other services. Agriculture and environmental services together account for about 33% of the labor force. The AGE 2035 development agenda gives priority to blue activities such as fisheries, ocean services and marine tourism; green activities such as agriculture, livestock, forestry and environmental sustainability; the digital economy; tourism; and the yellow energy economy. BANGE-PNUD initiatives in 2026 also focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, agribusiness, green, blue, digital and circular activities, applied training, screening and finance. These initiatives are pilots and policy priorities, not measured nationwide employment results. The first quarter of 2026 showed gross domestic product growth of 1.7% compared with the previous quarter but a 4.1% decline compared with the same quarter of the previous year.
Labor market in Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea's labor market combines a capital-intensive hydrocarbon economy with expanding non-hydrocarbon activities such as services, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries. The latest broad household survey recorded 13.1% unemployment, while fewer than 20% of jobs were formal. Public employment provides about three quarters of formal jobs, but limited vacancies, skills mismatches and the hydrocarbon transition make access uneven.
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