Asturias shows that 9.36% of its employment is tied to technology-related sectors. In contrast, Madrid registers 14.22%, ranking as the fourth largest autonomous community by share after the Basque Country (11.77%) and Catalonia (10.26%). The Asturias figure stays 0.87 points above the national average, a detail highlighted in the latest Quarterly Labor Market Observatory produced by the Foundation for Applied Economics Studies (Fedea). Coordinators Florentino Felgueroso and Rafael Domenech, along with Alfonso Arellano, Juan Ramon Garcia, Marcel Jansen, and Analia Viola, note that the data extend through March and reflect ongoing updates to the region’s employment profile.
The analysis centers on the information and communications technology sector, commonly known as ICT, alongside professions and disciplines grouped under STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), as well as other high-technology activities. This focus underscores a wider shift in Asturias’ economy toward knowledge-intensive work, signaling a structural change that accompanies the gradual decline of long-established industries and the rise of sectors oriented to the future. The shift is sometimes described as the coal-to-technology transition, illustrating the move away from traditional coal extraction toward sectors with stronger innovation and digital capabilities.
The data show that Asturias, despite holding a modest share of all national jobs (1.87%), contributes a notably larger share of technology-laden roles, at 2.05% of the national total specifically in tech-oriented occupations. This concentration highlights the region’s growing role as a hub for skilled labor in ICT, engineering, and related fields, a trend driven by ongoing public-private collaboration and strategic investment.
Relative to its peers, Asturias sits behind the three leading regions and particularly behind Madrid in attracting high-tech employment. Madrid’s capital status and its appeal as a business center—fueled by dense urban agglomeration, central geography, and a productive fabric heavily oriented toward services and business services—help explain this gap. Yet Asturias stands out for surpassing the national average in tech-related employment and demonstrating resilience in a changing economy. The Canary Islands register the lowest share of such occupations, below 4%, a reflection of the region’s tourism-driven economy.
In recent decades, the surge in demand for professionals with ICT and STEM credentials has reshaped recruitment practices. Many firms now seek talent while students are still completing their studies, a phenomenon most evident in ICT and related industries where early access to skilled labor is increasingly common. This wave of talent acquisition is part of broader regional strategies that combine public and private investments to attract new business and stimulate innovation ecosystems.
Across sectors that fall under ICT, STEM, and high-tech, new companies—often joined by foreign investors or through acquisitions of local firms—signal a renewed interest in Asturias as a site for modern industry. Domestic companies with regional roots coexist with international players, creating a dynamic where local capabilities are augmented by external expertise and capital. This integration reinforces the region’s ability to leverage technology to drive growth and diversification.
Industry structure in Asturias remains supportive of high-value manufacturing and advanced fabrication. The manufacturing sector alone accounts for a substantial share of the regional GDP and employment, underscoring the importance of industrial modernization as a complement to service-oriented growth. INE data from 2021 place Asturias’ manufacturing contribution at about 13% of regional activity, with the sector representing roughly 11.5% of Spain’s total manufacturing, a figure that signals both resilience and room for expansion. The region remains a hub where advanced production, engineering capabilities, and digital adoption converge to sustain competitiveness.