The Tsou used to depend on farming and hunting, but hunting has been illegal since Alishan was declared a national scenic area in 2001. In addition to living off of money made from raising ginger, bamboo shoots, plums, cabbage, jelly-fig, and camellia seeds, the people of Pnguu are working hard to develop tourism and cultural industries using aid from the government's multi-employment development plan.
農耕和狩獵原是阿里山鄒族的生活所依，但自從 2001 年被劃為國家風景區後，阿里山即全面禁獵，來吉部落目前除種植生薑、竹筍、李子、高麗菜、愛玉子、苦茶籽等農產品維持生計外，在政府多元就業方案的補助下，更積極發展觀光和藝文產業。