Press release 15/07/2016

DIRAE. Areas of economic activity and business parks

18% of the people employed in the Basque Country work in industrial estates

There are 311 areas of economic activity that include over 22,000 establishments

18% of the workforce in the Basque Country works in industrial estates, according to the data provided by Eustat. If you take into consideration all of the areas of economic activity defined as concrete areas with geographic limitations where there are establishments that carry out economic activities, the number of people employed reaches 278,531 or 33% of the total workforce.

Eustat provides this information and other statistical data about the population, housing and establishments of economic activity with specific details by region, through LurData. Its unique feature is that the user can decide which geographical area they would like to find out about.

This new way of disseminating statistical data is based on the use of the Basque Government's Geographical Data System, known as GeoEuskadi. This system allows you to sketch any provincial units on the map, or you can use it to locate geographical layers on the system. These could be population entities, census sections and so on. It is also possible to position yourself in the areas of economic activity and business parks as well as other features and services.

In the Basque Country there are 311 areas of economic activity, which include 22,022 establishments. Of these establishments, 61.47% perform activity in the service sector while 28.36% are focused on industry, energy and sanitation. However, although the number of establishments operating in the service sector is twice as high as those in the industrial sector, there are 136,476 people employed by the industrial sector, compared to 127,060 in the service sector.

By province, Gipuzkoa has 153 areas of economic activity, Bizkaia 117, and Alava 42. One area of economic activity, Otaloa-Iburerreka, spans two provinces: Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. Specifically, it is found in Eibar and Zaldibar.

The area of economic activity with the highest number of establishments is Vitoria-Gasteiz Norte, with 1,271 establishments and 17,609 employees. It is followed by the area of Trapaga-Barakaldo, with 1,193 establishments and 12,781 employees, and the area of Jundiz-Ali-Gobeo, also in Vitoria-Gasteiz, with 1,107 establishments and 16,914 employees.

An area of economic activity is a consolidated urban space developed for the establishment of various economic activities, and it constitutes a perfectly planned and delimited area, subject to by-laws with non-residential spaces, urban planning and infrastructure in accordance with the requirements stipulated in the urban laws in place and the corresponding regulations.

A closed polygonal line or area is formed on the land in question, the boundaries of which are at a distance of at least 200 metres away from other areas, and it contains at least three active establishments.

As can be seen on the map, the majority of the areas of economic activity are located around the transport connecting the three Basque capitals. It is clear that one of the most important factors for a company’s success is its location. It is fundamental to be near good infrastructure and connected to the rest of the territory by transportation networks, both for the easy shipment of merchandise and to facilitate the employees’ access to their jobs.

Areas of economic activity in the Autonomous Region of the Basque Country

Source: Eustat. DIRAE. LurData

A business park is a division of the area of economic activity based on the distinctive business activities of companies in the zone and the subsequent actions taken by the urban authorities.

If we analyse the business parks and their classification, the business park with the highest number of establishments in the Basque Country is industrial, with 44.31% of the total. This statistic remains true if we analyse it by province. For example, in Alava, 58.09% of the establishments that are in an area of economic activity are industrial estates, in Gipuzkoa the figure is 41.32% and in Bizkaia, 41.27%. With regard to employment, industrial estates also employ the highest number of people (148,331) followed by mixed with no predominant activity (47,241) and business and leisure (34,591).

Individually, the Igara Industrial Estate (Donostia/San Sebastián) is the estate with the highest number of establishments, 752, followed by Júndiz (Vitoria-Gasteiz), with 685, and Gamarra, (Vitoria-Gasteiz and Arratzua-Ubarrundia) with 631.

Mention should also be made of the science and technology park category, which has 621 establishments with 16,312 people employed. The majority of those establishments belong to the service sector (5252), followed distantly by the industry, energy and sanitation sector (70).

For further information:

Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Instituto Vasco de Estadística C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.es Tlf: 945 01 75 62 Further press releases on the Economic activities directory in the Basque Country