The most important economic information
Podkarpackie is one of the less economically advanced voivodships in Poland when measures in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). In 2017, Podkarpackie’s GDP amounted to € 18.064bn as compared to € 16.627bn in 2016, making up 3.9% of the national GDP in both the years (Eurostat, 2019). The GDP per capita was 14,600 (PPS) in 2017 as compared to the national average of 20,900 (PPS) and has been increasing steadily over the years (Eurostat, 2018).The unemployment rate in 2018 stood at 6.5% in 2018, compared to the national average of 3.9% (Eurostat, 2019). Nonetheless, the rate has been declining sharply over the last five years, from a high of 14.4% in 2013.
In 2016, 50.0% of the region’s gross value added (GVA) was generated by services, similarly to the sector’s contribution to the national GVA of 53.5%. The second largest economic sector in Podkarpackie – industry – constituted 32.0% of the total regional GVA in 2016, as compared to the national figure of 27.42% (Central Statistical Office, 2018).
By the end of 2018, there were 2055 foreign firms in the region or almost 2.4% out of all foreign firms in Poland, making up a significant part of 14.4% out of all firms in the region (Rzeszów Statistical Office, 2019).
Podkarpackie is known for its rich deposits of natural resources such as oil and natural gas as well as mineral raw materials such as sulphur, gypsum, sandstone and limestone currently being extracted in modern mines. In addition to the development of traditional sectors based on existing resources (agriculture, industry and mining), the food, pharmaceutical, aviation and IT sectors have also developed.
Economics in numbers
Economic mechanisms in the region
The region is highly industrialized and oriented especially on aviation, automotive, electromechanical, biotechnology, IT and chemical industry. Among the largest companies settled in the region one can indicate Dębica SA and Kirchhoff Polska (automotive), Asseco (IT) or Nowy Styl (Krosno) (furniture). Particularly dynamic has been the growth of the IT industry and aviation cluster, so called Aviation Valley. In fact, Podkarpackie is a place of a large concentration of aviation industry – almost 90% of Polish production (Polish Investment & Trade Agency – Podkarpackie 2017)., the region is the cradle of Poland’s aviation industry, accounting for 90% of the country’s aerospace industry output. It is home to the Aviation Valley cluster which employs over 24,000 workers and hosts over 100 companies of which the number is growing.
The Podkarpackie Region is a favourable location for entrepreneurs that seek to invest in the east of Poland, not least due to the availability of areas designated for investments and economic zones offering preferential conditions for commercial activity. The area is also easily accessible via the A4 Motorway which links the western and eastern borders of Poland, going via Wrocław and Kraków to Rzeszów. In addition, there is currently a S19 expressway under construction that will connect all the eastern regions of Poland as a north-south axis. Furthermore, there are modernised railway lines as well as the Rzeszów-Jasionka International Airport with a consistently growing number of passengers.
