The dynamism of the services sector, industry and construction will allow the Asturian economy to grow at an appreciable rate of 2.6% this year, although three tenths lower than the national average, according to the university's prediction cabinet Hispalink Asturias. This difference is due in large part to the sharp decline (-5.2%) expected in the primary regional sector (agriculture, cattle and fish industries).

For the next two years, Hispalink appreciates a deceleration of the regional economy, with nevertheless estimable progress of 2.4%, coinciding with the slowdown that is also predicted for the Spanish economy by the generality of the prediction centers and also by the Government. However, the decrease in growth will be lower in Asturias (two tenths) than in the rest of Spain (three), which will not prevent the Asturian boost in the next biennium (2.4% per year) to remain below the average (2.6%).

In the case of Asturias, the slowdown in 2018 and 2019 will come entirely from the industrial sector, which will be relieved as a growth engine by construction and services.

The tertiary sector is already contributing (as it happens in the rest of Spain) with a capital contribution to the good behavior of the gross domestic product (GDP) this year, mainly due to transport (air, sea and road) and to the activities related to tourism. Hispalink expects a growth of 2.7% in the services sector in 2017.

This favorable development is being supported by the dynamic performance of the industry (after the decline it experienced in 2017) and the construction (coming out of a long depressive period), both with expected growth of 2.6% for this year. The good factory production and exports in the first case and the cement consumption and municipal licensing rates in the second during the first quarter support the expectation that they have reached a sustainable cruising speed.

The decline in the cattle industry, with falls in regional meat production (-20%) and milk (-2%) to April, is the main shade area that the Asturian economy will face this year.

Despite this setback, Hispalink has good job prospects for this year, with a significant increase in employment (expected growth of 3.3%) and registered contracts (8%), together with a reduction in registered unemployment according to the labor force survey. Hispalink warned that the main weakness of Asturias would still be the low activity rate: active population (employed and unemployed) over the total number of inhabitants.