Competitiveness and specialization: A regional analysis of the evolution of employment in Spain from a spatial perspective

Abstract

The importance of the current economic crisis and its effects on employment in Spain in sectors such as building, motivate the subject of analysis in this article, with the aim of studying the evolution of employment in the different Spanish regions before (2001-2006) and during the current crisis (2007-2012) in relation to the whole nation and neighboring regions. We will use, for this purpose, a shift-share analysis spatially modified. The results show the decrease of the weight of building sector in different regions during the crisis, supporting agriculture and services sectors. In general, Castilla-La Mancha highlights as the Community whose building employment has grown faster than the national average, having a greater relevance than its neighboring regions as well.