Notable differences exist between Galicia and Spain: (1) the relative size of the different cohorts of the population is not the same; (2) the Galician labor force is less educated; (3) the weight of the agricultural sector in Galicia is greater than in Spain; and, (4) the labor productivity is 20% lower than the Spanish average. This paper explores which part of the differences in the sectorial composition and in the levels of labor productivity are due to the differences in the structures of age and education. Equalizing the educational levels of the new cohorts, Galicia would experience a strong process of sectorial transformation: the weight of the primary sector is reduced to converge to the Spanish average and the differences of productivity would be reduced by 50%. Nevertheless, this process is slow and the differences are persistent, since it is necessary to wait for the new cohorts to replace the present population.

Key words: structural change, education, total factor productivity, regional convergence.
JEL classification: 047, 057.