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Date Published: 22/10/2021

ARCHIVED - Murcia businesses fared better than national average during the pandemic

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Businesses in the Region of Murcia, especially family-run enterprises, felt fewer negative effects from Covid compared to the national average in Spain

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Murcia businesses fared better than national average during the pandemic

Although the coronavirus pandemic has been tough on businesses across Spain, a recent study revealed that small and medium businesses (SMEs), known in Spanish as pymes (pequeñas y medianas empresas), in the Region of Murcia have withstood the effects of the pandemic better than the national average.

The study was conducted by the Competitivity Chair at the College of Economists in the Region of Murcia and the Mare Nostrum Family Business Chair and shows that the larger size of Murcian family SMEs has allowed them to cope with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis more successfully; in Murcia, the average number of employees is 27, whereas the Spanish average is just 22.

Around 80% of family-run businesses in Murcia have maintained or increased their number of employees, even while 45% saw a decrease in sales. The use of ERTE furlough schemes in Murcia (25%) was lower than the national average (39%).

The study also shows that Murcia businesses have seen a smaller loss of earnings than the Spanish average, and family-run businesses fared even better. In addition, businesses in Murcia reported high levels of employee and customer satisfaction when compared to competitors.

On the other hand, only 11% of family-run SMEs and 10% of SMEs in the Region resorted to working online during the pandemic compared to 15% of all SMEs in Spain.

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