Today Badalona has a highly diversified economy with a total of 5.000 companies employing 41.000 persons, 90% of which are SMES with fewer than 10 workers. There are also 9.000 self-employed workers. The active population of Badalona is 100.000 persons, and the unemployment rate around 8%.

As can be seen in the table, most of the employment is in the service sector, though the city has an important industrial history. The municipal government has made an effort in recent years to preserve Badalona’s industrial base, and it is still one of the most industrial cities within the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona.

 

Though the service sector is the most important, other major areas of activity are the metal and mechanical sector, the Pronto Moda clothing business, retailing and large supermarkets, construction, and a small core of medical and pharmaceutical businesses that are qualitatively important.

 

The metal and mechanical sector

This is the most important industrial sector in the city, comprising over 300 companies that represent approximately 8% of the GDP and 8,4% of the employment in the city.

 

The textile/clothing sector

This sector is the second most important industrial activity, representing 7% of the GDP and 5,6% of the employment in the city.

Service activities in Badalona

 

Export in Badalona

About 200 companies in Badalona are regular exporters and a similar number of companies export occasionally, with the following distribution by continents.