To understand the problem of youth unemployment in Extremadura, we have to know a little about the Extremaduran economic sector, which I explain in this blog helped by a small video.
POPULATION, NATALITY, MORTALITY AND RURAL EXODUS
Extremadura has approximately a total population of 1 million people of which
62 thousand are young people between 16 and 29 years old. The population distribution is very uneven; Extremadura people are concentrated in areas close to the main communication routes and the most active economy areas.
Currently the birth rate of Extremadura is 10.04‰ and the mortality rate is 9.5 ‰. The natural growth, although it is positive, is close to zero (0.05%).
From 1960 to 1980, there was a decline in Extremadura population, the result of emigration to other parts of Spain, which is known as rural exodus. Emigration meant in this period the loss of between 450,000 and 600,000 people from Extremadura.
Currently we can talk about a "youth" exodus. The official data shows this. 2018 closed with a new loss: almost 4,200 people under 20 to 29 years old. The main reason? Again, labor emigration, to other communities, such as Madrid; or to other countries, such as France or Germany.
If the young people who start working, settle down and start a family leave, the birth rate in Extremadura will hardly recover. It is like a snake biting its own tail.
SERVICE SECTOR (59,8%)
TOURISM IN CÁCERES
Cáceres is one of the best preserved historical sites in the world. Every corner of this city has a story to tell. The old walled center, with its stately buildings, and its romantic alleyways, the cathedral, its palaces and churches, still breath the air of other times.
Spanish tourists come mainly from Madrid, 20%. The foreigners who visit us the most are the neighbor countries France and Portugal. The city has 3500 hotel beds and has registered 897640 visitors in 2018.
Cáceres´s surroundings: Because of the geographical situation in which it it is located, and the enormous dimensions it has, there are many types of landscapes. We can emphasize the steppes (great plains with undulations) in which herbs and aromatic plants grow and the meadows (extensive forests of holm oaks and cork oaks) where the black vulture or the imperial eagle nest. Extremadura is crossed by the rivers Tajo and Guadiana.
COMMERCE IN CÁCERES
It has somewhat less than the national average due to the low population density, the dispersion of the population and the average income level of the population.
There are two types of trade:
DOMESTIC TRADE:
It is traditional, family-oriented and sector-focused trade of food and textiles.
FOREIGN TRADE:
Imports exceed exports. The products exported by Extremadura correspond to those derived from the primary sector.
Exports: electricity, agricultural products, meat, tobacco and cork.
Imports: machinery, metals, textiles, footwear ...
Cáceres has an aged population that contributes to less consumption.
PUBLIC SERVICES
Health
Many reception centers, nursing homes, health centers, public hospitals, private hospitals were created, which has generated many jobs.
Education
Extremadura counts with many schools, institutes and universities that also generate numerous jobs.
TRANSPORT
Road transport is the most used by passengers and also for the transport of goods.
It has an airport, with flights to Madrid near Badajoz.
Extremadura does not have a good rail connection with the rest of Spain. The most obsolete and outdated train in Spain is in Extremadura: railway sleepers manufactured in 1886 that are still in use. It is working on its improvement and by the end of 2020 it will be ready.
SECONDARY SECTOR (23,1%)
In Extremadura the secondary sector is less important than the service sector. A reason for this is because it is far from the main markets and it does not have good rail connection to the rest of Spain.
Other reasons are: the shortage of raw materials, a very small market, insufficient communication channels, low infrastructure...
The industries that exist are located in the important cities and next to the rivers.
Needs to improve the sector:
Achieve greater competitiveness
Infrastructure improvement
Technological impulse and modernization
The consequence of this is that it has difficulties to grow at the same rate as the national economy.
FIRST SECTOR (17,1%)
Throughout history, the Extremadura economy has been characterized by
focusing, almost exclusively on this sector. This is logical if we have in
account that most of the region is rural. This changed with the rural exodus that occurred over the 50s and 60s, Extremadura migrated to other areas of Spain (especially communities located to the north).
-Livestock:
It plays an important role in the region. Livestock is everywhere: cows, sheep, goats and pigs. Animals continue to live openly as we recalled in times past.
-Farming:
They are usually small farms with little mechanization resources, they have medium productivity.
We also can highlight beekeeping, inland fisheries and forest resources.