TRADITIONAL JOBS IN TRADITIONAL JOBS IN ASTURIASASTURIAS

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONThe Principality of The Principality of Asturias is an Asturias is an autonomous province autonomous province belonging to Spain. It belonging to Spain. It has 10604 kmhas 10604 km22, in , in which more than one which more than one million inhabitants live. million inhabitants live. Linked to mining-Linked to mining-metallurgical sector metallurgical sector until recent years, at until recent years, at present the industry present the industry occupies 16% of total occupies 16% of total jobs compared to 70% jobs compared to 70% of jobs in the service of jobs in the service sector, being tourism sector, being tourism a major source of a major source of income. The mines and income. The mines and factories, whose factories, whose economic importance economic importance takes place in the takes place in the second half of the XIX second half of the XIX century, and lasted century, and lasted until the 90s of the XX until the 90s of the XX century, are now trying century, are now trying to survive. to survive.

Iron and Steel Industry

The iron and steel industry is one of the most The iron and steel industry is one of the most traditional in the region and has been, together traditional in the region and has been, together with mining, one of the main forces of industrial with mining, one of the main forces of industrial growth in Asturias since the early 19th century. growth in Asturias since the early 19th century. This extended experience, combined with the This extended experience, combined with the high level of training of the industry workers and high level of training of the industry workers and the technological development of the processes the technological development of the processes and products, have allowed the region to become and products, have allowed the region to become an undoubted leader for the sector in Europe.an undoubted leader for the sector in Europe.

Within the metal sector, casting is another of the Within the metal sector, casting is another of the most representative subsectors of the region most representative subsectors of the region since Roman times. Asturias produces cast iron since Roman times. Asturias produces cast iron and steel and non-ferrous products such as and steel and non-ferrous products such as aluminium, zinc, copper and their alloys, for all aluminium, zinc, copper and their alloys, for all types of industrial sectors.types of industrial sectors.

The main client sector for casting is the car The main client sector for casting is the car sector, followed by machine tool manufacturers, sector, followed by machine tool manufacturers, valve manufacturers and construction,valve manufacturers and construction,etcetc

Agriculture

In the XVIII century Asturias was mainly rural, so the agricultural sector occupied more than 75% of the professional activities. Corn, introduced in the previous century, was one of the main products, as well as millet and escanda. Corn was used to make bread, to breed animals, to make mattresses, to be burnt as fuel…

Farmers grew beans, essential in the elaboration of the traditional fabada, turnips, green beans,peas, potatoes, peppers, cauliflowers, etc..

As regards fruit, apples were an essential element As regards fruit, apples were an essential element in the elaboration of cider, which was made with in the elaboration of cider, which was made with autochthonous varieties. We must also mention autochthonous varieties. We must also mention cherries, strawberries, figs,nuts, etc..cherries, strawberries, figs,nuts, etc..

All these products were sold in the markets, All these products were sold in the markets, therefore there was a strong connection between therefore there was a strong connection between villages and cities.villages and cities.

Cattle raising

Since the middle of the XIX century, livestock has played an important part in Asturias economy. Cows have a especial relevance for their milk, exported to the rest of Spain and Europe. Other farm animals are sheep, goats, pigs and hens.

The seasonal exploitation of pasturelands gave rise to distributed settlements for cattle and specific structures for this,both for housing or shelter: they are the brañas.

Cattle raising has an important role today and it remains as one of the most productive sectors in Asturias

MiningMining

The mining industry of coal has marked the actual The mining industry of coal has marked the actual history of the community of Asturias during more than history of the community of Asturias during more than 200 years.200 years.

At the end of the XVIII century, the first deposits of At the end of the XVIII century, the first deposits of coal started to be exploited during the slow industrial coal started to be exploited during the slow industrial revolution in Spain. During the second part of the XIX revolution in Spain. During the second part of the XIX century, the exploitation of coal was developed and its century, the exploitation of coal was developed and its distribution was favoured thanks to the railroad.distribution was favoured thanks to the railroad.

At the beginning of the XX century and during the First At the beginning of the XX century and during the First World War the coal production increased. However, World War the coal production increased. However, inhuman work conditions that involved long workings inhuman work conditions that involved long workings days, low salaries and the use of workforce from women days, low salaries and the use of workforce from women and children caused the summit of the union recoveries.and children caused the summit of the union recoveries.

In 1934, the Asturian miners started a revolution that was In 1934, the Asturian miners started a revolution that was suffocated by the Spanish army.suffocated by the Spanish army.

In the 60s and 70s the increase of the syndicalism In the 60s and 70s the increase of the syndicalism continued and a lot of strikes took place. In the 80s, a continued and a lot of strikes took place. In the 80s, a rationalization in the mining and rationalization in the mining and iron and steel industry iron and steel industry began with the massive closure of mines and long strikes.began with the massive closure of mines and long strikes.

  

In the 90s the first European Union subsidies were In the 90s the first European Union subsidies were granted, which have allowed the constructions of big granted, which have allowed the constructions of big infrastructures.infrastructures.

In the XXI century, there were still some mines in In the XXI century, there were still some mines in operation.operation.

The coal extraction at a global scale can’t be The coal extraction at a global scale can’t be completed because of the problems with the nuclear completed because of the problems with the nuclear energy. There’s still a possibility of using this energy. There’s still a possibility of using this material in the future.material in the future.

  

CraftsmanshipCraftsmanship

Asturias is a rich community in traditions, Asturias is a rich community in traditions, which at the same time bets firmly for the which at the same time bets firmly for the innovation as an engine of the future and its innovation as an engine of the future and its crafts are a reflection of this reality.crafts are a reflection of this reality.

The crafts are being re-discovered nowadays The crafts are being re-discovered nowadays because they use technologies and because they use technologies and autochthonous raw materials, they demand a low autochthonous raw materials, they demand a low energetic consumption and they are slightly energetic consumption and they are slightly aggressive with the environment. Besides, they aggressive with the environment. Besides, they complement other activities of agricultural, complement other activities of agricultural, fishing or tourist kind.fishing or tourist kind.

Ceramics

Asturias is a region with a deep-rooted ceramist Asturias is a region with a deep-rooted ceramist tradition. The first information found in the XVIII century tradition. The first information found in the XVIII century is about the foundation of factories of crockery and the is about the foundation of factories of crockery and the appearance of numerous workrooms where people made appearance of numerous workrooms where people made handcrafted objects.handcrafted objects.

Faro, in Limanes (Oviedo), and Llamas de Mouro (Cangas Faro, in Limanes (Oviedo), and Llamas de Mouro (Cangas de Narcea) are the main centres of potters in the region, de Narcea) are the main centres of potters in the region, standing out mainly for the manufacturing of jars, pots standing out mainly for the manufacturing of jars, pots and other utensils made from black ceramics. and other utensils made from black ceramics.

WoodWood

Wood is the principal raw material of Asturian craftsmen, due to the Wood is the principal raw material of Asturian craftsmen, due to the abundance of forests of chestnut-trees, oaks, beeches, etc and to the abundance of forests of chestnut-trees, oaks, beeches, etc and to the quality of the wood that is obtained from them. It has always been quality of the wood that is obtained from them. It has always been essential in the traditional society for the construction of houses and essential in the traditional society for the construction of houses and barns and hórreos ( typical Asturian storehouse). It is also used in the barns and hórreos ( typical Asturian storehouse). It is also used in the manufacturing of household objects, such as lunchboxes, bowls and manufacturing of household objects, such as lunchboxes, bowls and madreñas ( typical Asturian shoes).madreñas ( typical Asturian shoes).

These wood crafts include a large variety group of These wood crafts include a large variety group of workers, like basket-makers or cesteros, madreña workers, like basket-makers or cesteros, madreña makers or madreñeros,bowl makers or cunqueiros makers or madreñeros,bowl makers or cunqueiros and willow workers or mimbreros.and willow workers or mimbreros.

In the XVIII century the Asturian population that In the XVIII century the Asturian population that shared their activities in the country with the shared their activities in the country with the crafts reached the 72,9% of the total occupations crafts reached the 72,9% of the total occupations in the region.in the region.

Leather

• Since the XVIII century, period of brilliance in the Asturian craftsmanship, we find different factories of tanning, like the ones that opened in Oviedo, Tineo and Gijón. The production of leather at that time was abundant, especially in the shoemaker factories that reach a big importance in places like Noreña and Pimiango.

Jet

Jet is a charcoal which was petrified 60 million years ago and turned into black lignite. Its curving requires patience and skill. It is the ideal raw material for craftwork. Jet has been sold to Galician farmers since the XIII century.

The unique jet mine in exploitation that exists nowadays in Spain is in Oles, Asturias

FishingFishing Rivers have been a natural resource from the Rivers have been a natural resource from the

prehistory. People settled themselves near the prehistory. People settled themselves near the fluvial basins, so that fishing became the basis of fluvial basins, so that fishing became the basis of their subsistence.their subsistence.

There was a change from very rudimentary and There was a change from very rudimentary and individual fishing equipment to colective and individual fishing equipment to colective and bigger ships whose fishermen formed guilds. bigger ships whose fishermen formed guilds. These guilds were especially powerful in the XVI These guilds were especially powerful in the XVI and XVII century, when fishermen had to fight for and XVII century, when fishermen had to fight for their rights in a very dangerous and hard work.their rights in a very dangerous and hard work.

The Asturian coast extends along 334 kmThe Asturian coast extends along 334 km22, being , being its rivers and sea very rich in a large variety of fish.its rivers and sea very rich in a large variety of fish.

In the XVII century the most important harbour was In the XVII century the most important harbour was Cudillero, with 350 inhabitants and 40 ships. They Cudillero, with 350 inhabitants and 40 ships. They fished sea bream, hake,conger, salmon, fished sea bream, hake,conger, salmon, tuna,trout,sardine,etc..tuna,trout,sardine,etc..

Other important harbours were Candás, Luanco, Other important harbours were Candás, Luanco, Avilés, Gijón, Ribadesella and Llanes.Avilés, Gijón, Ribadesella and Llanes.

Nowadays fishing activity is important in the Nowadays fishing activity is important in the Asturian coast, which has 18 harbours and 339 Asturian coast, which has 18 harbours and 339 ships. Around 21000 tonnes of fish are captured ships. Around 21000 tonnes of fish are captured every year.every year.

Present SituationPresent Situation

The economy of Asturias has a declining primary The economy of Asturias has a declining primary sector which occupies 6% of the active population sector which occupies 6% of the active population with cattle, highlighting the daily production, with cattle, highlighting the daily production, agriculture ( corn, potatoes and apples) and agriculture ( corn, potatoes and apples) and fishing. Coal mining was significant, but it has fishing. Coal mining was significant, but it has reduced its number from 20,000 miners in 80 reduced its number from 20,000 miners in 80 years to just 1,800 now. years to just 1,800 now.

  

The manufacturing sector gives jobs to 30% of The manufacturing sector gives jobs to 30% of the active population, being still important the the active population, being still important the steel industry, especially located between Gijón steel industry, especially located between Gijón and Avilés, food, shipyards, weapons, chemical and Avilés, food, shipyards, weapons, chemical products, transport equipment, etc. products, transport equipment, etc.

The service sector is made up of 65% of the The service sector is made up of 65% of the active population. The capital Oviedo is active population. The capital Oviedo is increasing its number of inhabitants, although increasing its number of inhabitants, although the coast of Gijón is the most populated one. This the coast of Gijón is the most populated one. This fact makes population concentrate in urban fact makes population concentrate in urban centers.centers.

Tourism has acquired a great importance in the Tourism has acquired a great importance in the region in recent years. Our slogan says: region in recent years. Our slogan says: "Asturias, natural paradise.” "Asturias, natural paradise.”

What do you think?What do you think?