Job creation continued in Spain in the third quarter of this year, when the number of employees increased by 138,300 people (+0.68%) compared to the April-June period, reaching a new record of 21,823,000 contributors. At the same time, unemployment remained stable and barely fell by 1,200 people, to reach 2,754,100 unemployed, with a unemployment rate of 11.21%or seven hundredths less than the previous quarter.
This is clear from the data of Labor Force Survey (LFS) published this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). In annual comparison, the drop in unemployment is more pronounced and amounts to 140,400 people, while employment growth is 376,600 over the last 12 months.
Sources from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise celebrated that Spain “reaches maximum employment and active population”, while “places unemployment at its lowest since 2008”. They highlighted the “very positive” behavior of the labor market in the third quarter, which “reveals workers’ confidence in the dynamism of the labor market.”
By gender, employment increased this quarter in 114,800 men and 23,500 women. By nationality, it increased by 65,300 people among Spaniards – including dual nationality – and by 73,000 among foreigners.
By sector, employment increased in services (152,700 more) and industry (23,400), virtually unchanged in construction (500 more) and decreased in agriculture (38,300 fewer).
Full-time employment increased by 287,000 people. That of part-time work decreased by 148,700. For its part, the number of employees increased by 224,000 – those with a permanent contract increased by 102,700 and those with a temporary contract by 121,300. The number of self-employed workers decreased by 87,800 people.
