A wave of layoffs lands on the Catalan labor market

BarcelonaThis year, May Day arrives amidst a climate of uncertainty for thousands of workers in the country. The start of 2026 has not been particularly good for employment: according to the Active Population Survey (EPA) published this Tuesday, Catalonia added 84,400 unemployed people in absolute terms between January and March, which confirms the worst inter-quarterly increase since 2009. This figure places the unemployment rate at 10.12%, compared to 8.24% at the end of last year. In contrast, for the country as a whole, the unemployment rate was 10.83%, the lowest level in a first quarter since 2008.

To this complicated start to the year regarding employment, a sharp increase in temporary layoff procedures (EROs) must be added. Specifically, during the first three months of the year, data collected by the Observatory of Labor and Productive Model of the Generalitat indicates that 1,874 people were affected by an ERO. This figure represents a 53% increase compared to last year, when 1,221 people were affected by the same problem during the same period. The sharp rise places the figure at its highest point in a first quarter since 2021, a year still heavily marked by the impact of COVID.

If we analyze the issue by sectors, according to the Labor Observatory's report, EROs in services have been the main cause of the increase: last year, their layoffs affected 594 people, while in January and March 2026, the figure has risen to 1,178, representing a 98% increase. In recent months, various technology companies have reduced jobs due to the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, a decision that may have impacted this figure. As for those affected in industry, they grew more moderately (+3%) during the first three months of the year, but also reached their highest levels since the end of the COVID impact.

One of the large companies that has recently announced layoffs has been Nestlé. Specifically, In fact, on the same lines, the Minister of Business and Labor, Miquel Sàmper, stated this Tuesday that "we must start talking openly" about the transformation that the labor market is undergoing. Thus, the minister indicated that process automatizations and artificial intelligence "have an immediate effect." "We must be able to find the formula that allows us to adapt to the new dynamics," Sàmper said at a press conference to evaluate the EPA data. Faced with the recent wave of employment regulation files, the minister committed to promoting a market transformation process that is "fast, agile, and above all, least harmful to the interests" of the workers.

But, what have been the main layoff processes during the start of the year? Let's review them.

The food sector

One of the large companies that has recently announced layoffs has been Nestlé. Specifically, the multinational expects the ERE to result in up to 301 layoffs across the State, including workers from its central headquarters in Esplugues de Llobregat and the coffee factories in Girona and Reus. Nestlé Spain's plans are part of the Swiss company's objective to reduce its workforce by up to 16,000 employees. But the company's arguments, which justify the layoffs due to "the increase in operating expenses and changing consumer habits," do not convince the unions, who label the measure as "unjustified" and "disproportionate." "We are not facing a company in crisis, but rather one that is highly profitable," criticizes the UGT union section at Nestlé Girona.

Also in Esplugues de Llobregat, at the beginning of the year, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners proposed an ERE at the center it has in the city. The plan foresaw laying off 23 workers from the sales and orders departments. As denounced by USOC and CCOO, although the company justified the measure by "organizational, technical, and productive reasons," the unions found the ERE "inadmissible" considering the "significant profits" of the company. Its main competitor, PepsiCo, also joined in: it announced up to 400 layoffs to close its commercial network in Spain, with direct impacts on the Catalan centers of Polinyà and Zona Franca.

The automotive industry, affected

The technology company founded by Òscar Pierre plans to lay off 143 workers in Catalonia, and across the entire State the figure rises to 750The other company is Nissan. Four years after the closure of its factory in the Zona Franca of Barcelona, in recent days the car brand has also announced a collective dismissal process in the three centers it has in Catalonia. Specifically, the ERO will affect the spare parts plant –which has a workforce of 122 people–, the NTC technical center –383 workers–, and the functional areas center –64 workers–. The automotive company, which already closed three plants in one of the largest industrial EROs in the history of Catalonia, has not yet quantified the impact in each of the centers, but the negotiating table for the proceedings must be constituted no later than May 6.

At the beginning of March, the seat supplier for Seat Adient Seating Spain –which has a plant in Abrera– also presented an ERO to dismiss 102 workers. The proceedings, according to the company, are linked to the cessation of production of the Audi A1 at the Martorell plant.

Impact of AI?

Amidst the impact of artificial intelligence on companies, technology consultancies Capgemini and Inetum announced layoffs on April 24. Specifically, Capgemini plans to cut a maximum of 748 jobs across the State. In Barcelona, where the company has a center with 1,603 employees, the consultancy plans to lay off up to 8% of the total, which amounts to 130 people. On the other hand, Inetum plans to reduce its workforce by 5% throughout the Spanish territory, which is 8,500 people. Around 750 employees work in Barcelona.

Another Catalan company that will reduce its workforce is Glovo. The technology company founded by Òscar Pierre plans to lay off 143 workers in Catalonia, and across the State the figure rises to 750. The company, which less than a year ago was forced to abandon its model of autonomous riders, justified the measure by stating that it was necessary to "avoid closure". The ERO will affect 78 employees in the Barcelona demarcation, 53 in Tarragona, and 12 in Girona, but will not impact Lleida.

Layoffs in two giants

Two Spanish giants have also sealed at the start of the year agreements to reduce their workforce. This is the case of Iberia, where at the end of March, management and unions signed a voluntary ERE for 996 people. Employees will leave the company with 80% of their gross salary in case of early retirement and with 35 days per year worked for those under 60 years old, which will be incentivized layoffs. In Catalonia, about 40 people meet the age condition and can apply for early retirement. In February, Telefónica also accepted 4,772 voluntary departures for the EREs of the company's three main subsidiaries, Telefónica España, Móviles, and Soluciones. This process had already begun at the end of last year.

To all these processes, we must still add others such as that of Mediapro —which affects 189 people—, the constructor of Camp Nou, Limak —399 workers— or that of International Paper —200—. We must also bear in mind the critical situation of the 200 workers of Serra Soldadura, a company that is in bankruptcy proceedings to find a buyer to take over its activity.