Decrease in Unemployment and Increase in Social Security Enrollment in April
In April, the number of unemployed people registered at Spain's employment offices fell by 60,503 people compared to March, a drop of 2.2%. With this decrease, the total number of unemployed people stands at 2,666,500, the lowest figure since September 2008, according to data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy. Social Security membership also reached an all-time high, with more than 21.1 million members.
This is the third consecutive monthly decrease in unemployment, although the decrease is smaller than in the same months of 2023 and 2022. The decline in unemployment was mainly driven by the services sector, which registered 42,067 fewer unemployed, followed by construction (-4,902), industry (-4,433) and agriculture (-3,451). Unemployment among those under the age of 25 also decreased significantly, with 16,925 fewer unemployed.
New Contracts and Increased Job Stability
In April, 1,267,440 contracts were registered, 9.5% more than in the same month of the previous year, of which 44.12% were indefinite. The increase in indefinite contracts signals a trend towards greater job stability. The coverage rate reached 70.4%, the highest since 2011.
Job Growth in Different Sectors
The hospitality sector experienced the highest growth within the General Regime, with 91,913 more members. Other sectors, such as administrative activities and auxiliary services, also showed an increase, while employment remained stable in other fields.
Reduction of Unemployment among Women and Foreigners
Female unemployment decreased by 76,729 women, and unemployment among foreigners decreased by 6,341 unemployed. The membership among self-employed workers also increased, with 11,987 new employees in April, reaching almost 3.36 million self-employed workers.
In year-on-year terms, employment increased by 486,516 workers, with a growth of 2.4%. Membership among young people under the age of 30 grew by 11.4%, highlighting the recovery of employment in this demographic group. The increase in membership among women is also notable, reaching 47.4% of the total number of workers.
In summary, the employment and Social Security affiliation figures for April indicate a sustained recovery of the Spanish labor market, with a focus on greater stability and year-on-year growth.