Agriculture employs around 90% of Burkina Faso's labor force. Cotton textiles are the most important export item. Other agricultural goods include rice, peanuts, sesame, millet, and maize. After agriculture, the handicrafts industry is the population's second largest source of income. Agriculture is the biggest sub-sector (35%), followed by livestock, forestry, and fishing (18%) and commerce, transportation, and communications (13%).
Mining, particularly gold mining, has been a significant export business in recent years. The primary and tertiary sectors continued to dominate the economy in 2011, each with a 38 percent share. Several initiatives have been taken by the government to encourage this industry. Among the development initiatives are the establishment of industrial nurseries, industrial growth and competitiveness centers, and incentives for industrial investment. FDI into the mining industry has skyrocketed. Prospective investors might take use of the country's mineral reserves. Burkina Faso has recently gained attention for its gold, zinc, manganese, and uranium mines.
The area has developed both dependable and competitive mobile and internet services as a result of the concentration of foreign direct investment in the telecommunications industry. Burkina Faso's financial system accounted for 30% of the country's GDP and 90% of overall financial system assets in 2009. As foreign assistance rises, many development sectors emerge to meet contemporary expectations and amenities. These industries include real estate, information technology, mining, manufacturing, and energy, among others.