Leur economie, axee sur la siderurgie et l'acier, n'a pu eviter le declin de ses deux poles d'activite. En effet: - Ces mutations industrielles sont a l'origine d'une forte reduction tant de la production que de l'emploi. - La desaffectation, voire la destruction d'un nombre impressionnant d'outils de production a fait apparaitre des friches industrielles de plus en plus nombreuses.
Their economy, geared towards the iron and steel industry, has not been able to prevent the decline in these two central activities, with the result that: - these industrial changes are at the root of a strong drop in production and employment; - the closure or demolition of an alarming number of production facilities has resulted in an ever-increasing number of industrial wastelands; - With heavy job losses extending over more than fifteen years now, the iron and steel industry is no longer an attractive option for young people.