The economy of the Autonomous Region of Asturias

Coal mining, steel and fishing were once the main economic pillars here. The dairy industry and related industries are not weak either. During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, the region's main industrial steel industry was one of the strongest in the world. The former regionally controlled company ENSIDESA has become part of the private company ARCELOR. The strong industry created a large number of jobs and attracted many immigrants from other regions such as Castile and Leon, Andalusia and Extremadura.

But the steel industry has gradually declined due to competition in Eastern Europe, high manufacturing costs and reduced global steel demand. Even though the growth of the service industry in recent years has alleviated the originally high unemployment rate, regional economic growth is still lower than the national growth. However, the construction industry is booming, with more retail plazas opening in the region's major cities.

Since 1986, it has benefited from EU investment in roads and other infrastructure.