The Valencian company sticks out its chest and points out that it is an “employment engine”

Businessmen have been telling themselves for years how important it is to explain their business story to others, but the latest electoral campaign – and Podemos’ words calling Juan Roig a “ruthless capitalist” – seems to have finally convinced them. Thus, it is understood that, only two months after the elections, the Valencian Association of Businessmen will carry out a survey with the help of GAD3 to probe the opinion of Spanish society on the business community. The result was known yesterday at the presentation of the first Valuation Barometer el Empresario, a new tool promoted by the Valencian lobby that promises annual editions.

And among its conclusions, the notable rating that society gives it in its contribution to social and economic well-being with a score of 7.5 and the “very positive” perception that 77.5% of those surveyed have of businessmen and women. . The survey, which was carried out between the months of July and August in the four main autonomous communities, Madrid, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Andalusia, has a sample of 2,500 people.

The survey, presented to a large audience in Marina de Empresas, is accompanied by a report prepared by the Ivie that certifies the importance of business in the creation of employment, investment and generation of wealth. According to the study, directed by Joaquín Maudos, private sector companies provide 84% of employment; 85.2% of the Spanish GDP and contribute 91% of the country’s total investment.

Likewise, with corporation tax alone they contribute 32,000 million euros, 9% of public coffers and 70% of Social Security contributions through employers. “The data speak for themselves and leave evidence of the extremely important importance that companies have for the Spanish economy and society,” defended Maudos.

In the presentation, sociologist Narciso Michavila made it clear that “if we do not explain what we do, others will explain it.” And the survey reveals that 24% of those surveyed consider that the public image of the businessman has worsened in the last year, and of these, 28% believe that this is due to the Government or national policy.

There is awareness of the relevance of the story because, among those who consider that the image has improved, they attribute it to the influence and exemplarity, the positive trajectory and the virtue of the company as a generator of employment.

Vicente Boluda, president of AVE, boasted about the latter yesterday in his parliament, when he pointed out that “most of us businessmen are aware of the important role we play; we are the engine of employment (…); and the sustenance of the Welfare State.”

Listening to him in the front row were some of the main businessmen from the Valencian Community, such as Juan Roig or Adolfo Utor, as well as from other territories, such as Jaume Guardiola, president of the Cercle d’Economia, to whom Adela Cortina had reminded that “the businessman “He has never been the protagonist of a good story.”

The professor of Ethics and Political Philosophy at the University of Valencia pointed out that “it is urgent to tell good, truthful and inspiring business stories so that people know what they are doing.”