They specialize in weaving and dyeing, since there is a high local demand for cloth. They travel far distances to trade their surplus goods. The Eloyi of the plains, however, are mostly farmers who trade only on a small scale. They obtain cash from the export of palm-oil and dried fish. Eloyi men hunt, clear the land for agriculture, and do most of the fishing and large-scale trading.
Women trade at the local level, often making more money than do their husbands.
They also help in cultivation and perform most household responsibilities, such as caring for children and preparing meals. The larger villages are divided into wards, which are sometimes separated into distinct hamlets. In the hills, round huts with conical thatched roofs serve as Eloyi houses. They are grouped in a compound around a central courtyard, which serves as a place for social gatherings and relaxation. The plains people fortify their villages and construct large houses, adopting the Hausa pattern of compounds.