Three regions, which include the three territorial capitals and their catchment areas, accounted for slightly over half (81.9%) of the industrial wealth created in the A.C. of the Basque country, according to Eustat data. Twenty-seven per cent of the industrial added value was generated in the Gran Bilbao region, followed by the Llanada Alavesa (Vitoria-Gasteiz) with 13.2% and Donstialdea, with 11.6%. Overall, the industrial employment rate stood at 118,542 people, i.e., 47.5% of the workforce employed in the industrial sector of the three historical provinces.

In terms of industrial added value, they are followed by the regions of Duranguesado (7.8%) and Alta Deba (7.0%), which were in fourth and fifth places respectively in the A.C. of the Basque Country overall, and a total of 41,784 people in the two regions were employed in the industrial sector.

In terms of provinces, Álava accounted for 21.1% of the wealth generated by the industry of the A.C. of the Basque Country in 2005, a percentage higher than their contribution to the economy as a whole, which stands at 16.9%. This means that its industrial clout is greater than that of the other economic sectors. The Llanada Alavesa (Vitoria-Gasteiz) accounted for 62.4% of the industrial added value of Álava and, together with the Rioja Alavesa (11.3%) and Cantábrica Alavesa (14.1%), made up 87.8% of the total Alava industrial sector.

Gipuzkoa’s industrial contribution stood at 36.8% of the industrial added value of the three historical provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country, where its economic contribution was 32.3%. Within Gipuzkoa, Donostialdea covered 31.6% of the industrial added value of that province. Together with the Goierri (15.6%), Alta Deba (19.1%) and Urola Costa (12.0%) regions, the four areas represent 78.3% of the province's industrial added value.

Bizkaia generated 42.1% of the industrial added value of the A.C. of the Basque Country and the sector contributed 50.8% to the economy of Bizkaia as a whole. The relative industrial importance was 8.7 per cent less than the total for the four economic sectors. Gran Bilbao generated 64.1% of Bizkaia’s Industrial Added Value and, together with the Duranguesado, the two regions are responsible for 82.7% of the value of Bizkaia.

In the two-year period between 2003 and 2005, Goierri, Rioja Alavesa and Gran Bilbao were the regions with greatest industrial growth

Normal growth of the industrial added value was 17.5% between 2003-2005. Nine regions exceeded that rate of growth. All the regions of Alava, except for Montaña Alavesa: Valles Alaveses, la Llanada Alavesa, Rioja Alavesa, Estribaciones del Gorbea and Cantábrica Alavesa; two regions in Bizkaia (Gran Bilbao and Duranguesado) and two regions of Gipuzkoa (Donostia-San Sebastián and Bajo Bidasoa).

During the two-year period in question (2003-2005), the greatest industrial growth was in Álava, where industry grew by 20.2%, followed closely by Bizkaia, with a rate of growth of 19.2%, ahead of Gipuzkoa that recorded growth of 14.1%, 3.4 points ahead of the average industrial growth for the A.C. of the Basque Country.

Personnel employed and Added Value at industrial factor cost by regions. 2003-2005. Thousands of euros.

Source: Eustat

Gross Added Value Growth a factor cost by regions. Two-year period 2003-2005 (%)

Source: Eustat