These are the eleven councils in which industrial employment in Asturias is concentrated

2023-11-06 05:15:00

A total of 34 councils in Asturias – that is, less than half of the 78 that exist – have at least 10% employment in the industry sector, according to 2022 statistics compiled by the Asturian Society of Economic Studies and Industrial (Sadei). And only in eleven of them does this activity represent at least 20% of jobs (that is, one in five).

In Asturias as a whole, the manufacturing sector contributes 12.9% of the workforce, although in terms of contribution to the regional GDP the percentage rises to 19.6%. In both variables, services are clearly predominant in the Principality, representing 77.4% in the first case and 72.8% in the second. It is concluded, therefore, that the industry has a greater capacity to create wealth.

The weight of the industry in employment Lne

The municipalities that exceed the threshold of 20% of industrial employment are Belmonte de Miranda (the only one in Asturias that has more than half, specifically 50.7%), Ribera de Arriba (47.6%), Carreño (46, 5%), Corvera (43.8%), Sariego (36.6%), Navia (35.7%), Noreña (30.1%), Pravia (26.4%), Castrillón (24.7% ), Grandas de Salime (23.8%) and Castropol (21.3%). Councils such as Mieres (18.9%), Riosa (18.9%), Taramundi (18.2%) or Avilés (17.7%) are close by.

Logically, the territories with the most industrialized employment are those in which important factories are established. For example, in Belmonte de Miranda there are the El Valle-Boinás gold, silver and copper mines exploited by Orovalle; Carreño has, among others, the EDP plant and the Tudela Veguín cement plant, both in Aboño; Corvera also houses, in the parish of Trasona, an Arcelor plant, as well as another Fertiberia plant; Castrillón has an important metallurgical and chemical density, where companies such as Asturiana de Zinc stand out; In Ribera de Arriba there is the EDP thermal power plant and the Mantequerías Arias agri-food plant; Sariego is the headquarters of companies such as Asturquimia; Grandas de Salime is home to the hydroelectric plant of the Salime reservoir, owned by EDP and Endesa; Companies such as the Ence paper mill, the ILAS-Reny Picot dairy company or the Armón Shipyard are located in Navia; and in Castropol, other shipyards, Gondán.

Although in recent decades they have especially suffered from the decline of coal mining, some councils of the Cuencas – such as Mieres, Riosa, Aller, Langreo, Morcín, San Martín del Rey Aurelio, Sobrescobio or Lena – still maintain higher percentages of industrial employment at 10%.

According to the latest registered unemployment data, corresponding to October, Asturias has a total of 4,021 unemployed in the industry, 5.4% more than the previous month, but 14.7% less than in October of last year. However, the unemployment rate reveals the paradox that this sector faces, given that many of its companies claim that they cannot find qualified professionals and that there are thousands of positions to be filled. It is a widespread phenomenon throughout Spain, but in the region it is particularly lacerating since a solid niche of industrial activity still survives. To try to alleviate the problem and attract personnel, especially young people, the regional government is preparing a campaign to promote Vocational Training, particularly aimed at manufacturing jobs.

Third sector

Sadei’s data confirm the drift towards tertiary activity that the Asturian economy has carried out as mining has disappeared. Except in a handful of councils – such as Belmonte de Miranda, Ribera de Arriba, Castropol, Carreño or Bimenes –, the service sector is the majority, especially in the two main cities: Oviedo (90.2% of total employment) and Gijón ( 80.4%). It also happens in the territories with the greatest tourist attraction, such as Cangas de Onís (81.9%), Llanes (78.5%), Ribadesella (73.9%) or Colunga (72.8%).

The other two sectors that are trying to preserve their space in the Asturian economy are construction and agriculture. In relation to the regional GDP, the first represents 5.9%, and the second, 1.8%. And when it comes to employment, they contribute 6.5% and 3.1%, respectively.