The Technology Sector Gains Ground in Alicante's Economy

The rise of the technology sector, the importance of training in strategic sectors, and the role of the Alicante-Elche functional axis are some of the initial conclusions of the Alicante Business Sector Study, which the City Council presented this Friday. The data outlines economic and employment trends in the city and aims to be a useful tool for decision-making. Alicante's mayor, Luis Barcala, explained that this report will provide a real snapshot of the city: "It is important that, for decision-making, there are objective data and not opinions," the mayor emphasized.

One of the surprises of the study was the significance of sectors such as wholesale and retail trade, which top the list of the city's most important sectors. The 'top 3' is completed by the sale and repair of motor vehicles.

In this ranking, the telecommunications and programming sector also stands out, an area that was barely existent ten years ago and now ranks sixth. The mayor highlighted that "this confirms that the Alicante Futura strategy is yielding results."

Among the most significant data of the study is the weight of the capital's GDP compared to the entire province. The capital represents 23.3% of the provincial total, a figure that, for Barcala, "refutes the idea that Alicante is purely a service city while industry is concentrated in the rest of the territory." Moreover, this figure contrasts with the 17% that Alicante represents in population terms, resulting in a GDP weight higher than its population.

Another aspect highlighted by the mayor is the importance of the Alicante-Elche functional axis. Barcala detailed that this area constitutes one of the most important economic hubs in Spain and the Valencian Community: "This reinforces that we were right to work in this direction and that we must continue," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Councillor Mari Carmen de España stressed the importance of this study, which will have periodic updates, as "only with updated information can we make the right decisions."

Among the most interesting data of the study are those that analyze the relationship between companies and the training offered by the City Council, especially in the technological field. In this sector, one in two jobs is hard to fill. "We must convey to our young people that growth is linked to this field," Barcala noted.

In this regard, the mayor has highlighted the City Council's work in public-private collaboration also in training. "We offer demand-driven training, together with the companies that are going to be established. We give them an advantage and encourage new positions to be filled by people from Alicante," he explained. Additionally, he added that young people trained at Impulsa Alicante do so in sectors with a future. In 2024, 579 people benefited from these courses, 305 of them so far this year.

Among the sectors with the highest demand for employment in the city are also warehouse and distribution, general labor in the construction sector, salespeople, administrative staff, and specialized technicians.