The pandemic is receding, yet public concern about health and infrastructure remains. Economic recovery appears promising, but inflation tempers the sense of progress. These two ideas capture much of the analysis from the Valencian Community perspective, based on a survey carried out by the Generalitat Valenciana Observatory between October and early this year, with notable shifts since 2021.
When participants were asked to name the main problems facing the Community of Valencia, about half did not identify a third problem, and 1,000 respondents did not pinpoint a second issue. Comparisons with 2021 and earlier years highlight persistent concerns in employment, health, and the cost of living as prices rise. The study, conducted through in-person interviews with 5,010 Valencians from October to December last year, was led by Ana Berenguer, the director of Analysis and Public Policy.
Ana Berenguer, describing the study, notes that many Valencians’ worries have changed in recent years amid an economic context focused on stronger growth. Employment and the overall economic situation continue to top the list of concerns, while questions about price increases have faded in prominence. The barometer shows that when asked about the three main problems today, more than half of the 5,010 respondents identified only two issues, and one-fifth identified a single problem.
Key issues for the Valencian Community and participants. GVA Observatory.
On the other hand, the Director General of Analysis and Public Policy emphasized that the barometer reveals a reduced public focus on corruption cases. In 2015, 58.2% mentioned it; by 2021 it fell to 8%; in the current study it is cited by only 2.8% of respondents. The economic map of concern shows historic lows in the autonomous region, with employment no longer seen as the top problem by 80% of citizens in 2015 and now by 36.6%. Worries about economic growth, once a leading concern amid pandemic uncertainties, stood at about one in four in earlier years and have declined by almost 14 points since 2021.
Even with a backdrop of high prices, people express confidence in Valencia’s economic trajectory, placing it ahead of the national trend by about ten percentage points. Berenguer notes that most interviewees are aware of strategic projects launched by the Generalitat, including the giant Volkswagen electric battery plant in Sagunto, which 75% of those familiar with the project consider highly important for regional growth. Projects in Alicante, such as the City of Light and the Vega Renhace Plan, attract less attention (39% and 23%, respectively) and hover around 15% overall. The region’s two startups register the lowest uptake for the cinema offerings, while Alicante’s investments total around 64.4% of the planned budget.
On the other hand, the Presidency official underscores broad support for the Generalitat’s policies, including purified or desalinated water reuse and the evaluation of renewable energy actions, with 65.4% of respondents expressing strong agreement and 75% expressing approval overall.
Ana Berenguer adds that the barometer reflects social and political stability in the Valencian Community, along with rising pride in regional autonomy. With the social and economic model undergoing transformation in recent years, there is a strong sentiment of belonging among Valencians.
main concerns
The five top concerns in the Valencian Community are unemployment (36.6%), health (36.2%), cost of living (19.8%), citizen safety (11.3%), and the economy (11.3%). On a personal level, health is the foremost concern for 29.4% of respondents, followed by unemployment (28.9%) and the cost of living (25%).
Unemployment remains a major issue, with 36.6% of those surveyed naming it as a central problem. This marks a decline from 2021 and a substantial drop since 2015 when unemployment was cited by a much larger share. About 80% of Valencians still see employment as a key issue, though the percentage acknowledging it has fallen over time. About one in five respondents identify unemployment as the main concern.
Health emerges as a primary worry for 36.2% of participants, a rise of 9 percentage points since 2021, with noticeable variation across Spain. Only 16.3% of respondents label health as the main problem in their personal assessment. The high cost of living and rising prices concern 19.8% of those surveyed in the latest round, a noticeable increase from 9.3% the year before. Across Europe, inflation remains a significant personal concern for about one in five Valencians.
Citizen safety appears for 11.3% of respondents, while concern about the economy drops by 13.9 percentage points to 11.3%. In 2021, the proportion mentioning the economy as a main concern stood at 25.2%.