A city grappling with low efficiency, a small businesswoman, and households with modest disposable income—yet the region sits above the national average for potential new business and foreign residents. This is the diagnostic picture Alicante presents through the x-ray view offered by Ineca. The new data board, a creation of the study institute led by Nacho Amirola, brings together the largest volume of information from diverse statistical sources into a single dashboard for the province.
As Amirola notes, the tool is a step forward in the Alicante “think tank” agenda to scrutinize provincial reality and present every bit of data to local businesspeople and society at large. About thirty researchers from UA and UMH contributed to the app’s development. The team, headed by Ineca’s Director of Studies and Projects, Francisco Llopis, and Armando Ortuño, explained how the system works and shared some of the most revealing data.
In this way, among multiple indicators of economic and social conditions that the tool aggregates and compares with national averages and with other provinces, Llopis highlighted the striking gap between Alicante and the wealthiest regions, including low productivity per worker.
To illustrate the issue, Llopis compared Alicante to the Basque Country, noting that Biscay’s GDP is very close to Alicante’s, generating similar overall wealth but with fewer employees. The difference underscores the productivity and employment gap that Alicante faces.
Thus, GDP per worker in Alicante in 2020 was 51,079 euros, versus the national average of 57,362 euros—11 percent lower. More notably, the province sits near the bottom of the ranking at 47,629 euros, with Córdoba ahead at 74,362 euros in a regional comparison.
Part of the reason for this weak indicator is the smaller size of Alicante’s companies, which limits their ability to innovate or access foreign markets. The average company in the province employs about 11.34 workers, well below the national average of 14.38 and far from Madrid, which hosts the largest firms.
Since 2000, Spain’s per-capita GDP ranking has dropped, with Alicante embroiled in the shift away from higher performing regions like the Canary and Basque areas.
Logically, the limited capacity of regional firms to create wealth—through technology adoption or product specialization—also translates into less money for residents. The average disposable income per taxpayer stands at 19,110 euros, roughly 16 percent below the national average. Again, Alicante trails Madrid, which posts 28,917 euros, while Jaén records the lowest declared disposable income at 17,091 euros.
more companies
Not everything is gloomy. Alicante ranks as the second Spanish province for the creation of new companies, often tied to its GDP and, in some years, a magnet for foreign residents. In fact, the foreign population there reaches nearly 21 percent—predominantly European—versus a national average of 11.4 percent.
Armando Ortuño emphasizes positive signs in other areas, such as readiness to face climate change and natural disasters. The current limit stands at 132 municipal emergency plans, up from four in 2008, signaling progress in local resilience.
The Ineca Data Board also tracks major infrastructures where the province’s status matters, including the Mediterranean Corridor and upcoming improvements like the third lane of the A-70 or A-31.
Many business leaders, such as the president of Alicante’s Chamber of Commerce, participated in the event, along with university and regional officials. The gathering closed with remarks about the contributions Ineca’s work has made toward pressing improvements at the state level.
Homage to Joaquín Rocamora
During the remarks, Amirola honored Joaquín Rocamora, the principal organizer of the study institute, who recently passed away. Rocamora had championed the idea that information, data, and analysis shape the province’s future—and he succeeded in rallying entrepreneurs across sectors and regions in support of this mission.