The regional deputy for Employment, Commerce, Tourism, and Regional Administration, Mar Dabán, has outlined her government's priorities for the final phase of the legislative term, focusing on the creation of "more and better quality jobs" aimed at achieving full technical employment.
Dabán has announced plans to promote training initiatives in logistics, construction, and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as programmes aimed at individuals facing challenges in entering the job market. Additionally, she emphasised the importance of enhancing support for local retail, particularly in rural areas, and consolidating Álava as a sustainable and high-quality tourist destination through projects like Aktibatu Araba and an online travel marketing platform.
During her presentation to the General Councils of Álava, Dabán acknowledged that she assumes her role with only eight months remaining in the legislative term. She expressed her commitment to continuing the rigorous work of her predecessor, Cristina González, and reiterated shared goals aimed at improving the lives of the residents of Álava.
“I share with Cristina González the same project aimed at enhancing the lives of the people of Álava and adopt the priorities she set three years ago at the start of the legislature,” Dabán stated.
Key priorities include an annual public employment offer to renew the regional workforce, adapting it to societal needs, and reducing temporary employment rates. The digitalisation and modernisation of the Regional Administration are also crucial, aiming to simplify procedures for citizens and businesses while delivering efficient public services.
Dabán highlighted the positive outcomes of these policies, citing a decrease in the unemployment rate from 7.9% to 6.4% over three years, alongside record figures for Social Security affiliation and a sustained increase in tourism, with a 13% rise in visitor numbers, a 29% increase in overnight stays, and a 15% rise in average length of stay between 2023 and 2025.
The deputy confirmed that during the current legislative term, 218 public employment positions across 41 categories have been announced, resulting in the appointment of 309 new career civil servants.
Looking ahead, Dabán is currently working on the 2027 budget proposal for Álava, aiming to present a robust plan to enhance employment, strengthen local commerce, and develop tourism. She reiterated that training will remain a cornerstone of employment promotion policies, with a focus on four key areas: logistics, housing construction, AI application, and internationalisation. Specific programmes will also be implemented to assist individuals facing employment challenges.
Regarding local retail, she stated, “We will strengthen support policies for the sector by enhancing awareness campaigns, improving funding for investment aid, and prioritising small and medium-sized businesses in all programmes.” In tourism, she plans to maintain successful strategies, including national and international promotion and the launch of new tourist products.
For 2027, Dabán has set specific goals, including collaboration with the Aktibatu Araba sector and the professional online platform ‘Ven a viajar’ for travel marketing to Álava, new training plans for tourism office staff, and expanded collaboration agreements with local associations.
She also announced a new public employment offer before the end of the year to maximise the legal replacement rate of the workforce, with the appointment of 103 new career civil servants expected in the coming months, bringing the total for the legislative term to 412.
Finally, in the area of General Services, Dabán indicated that progress will continue in the digitalisation of the Regional Administration, including the first phase of the Electronic Power of Attorney Registry, the tendering of a new file processing system, and complete migration to the new electronic headquarters. The rollout of a new Digital Strategy Plan and an internal regional AI will also be among the projects for the upcoming year.
