Catalonia loses 47,940 jobs in the worst January in the last thirteen years

BarcelonaJanuary is always a challenging month for the job market, following the loss of many contracts at the end of the Christmas season. The total number of registered workers in Catalonia started the year with a drop of 47,941 compared to December, a 1.24% decrease, according to data published this Tuesday by the Ministry of Social Security. This is the sharpest decline, at least, since 2013, when hiring practices were still heavily influenced by the devastating effects of the Great Recession. Even so, it is the highest figure recorded for a January in the entire historical series, and there are now 73,551 more registered workers in Catalonia than at the beginning of 2025. Across Spain as a whole, 2026 also began with significant job losses: 27,941 jobs were lost, a 1.24% decrease. Compared to a year ago, however, there are 477,818 more people working in the State. In absolute terms, Catalonia was the autonomous community where membership fell the most in January, ahead of Andalusia (-41,461) and the Community of Madrid (-37,448).

Increase in unemployment

Regarding unemployment, the Principality also began the new year with an increase in jobless. The number of people registered with employment services rose by 1,978, bringing the total to 325,214, an increase of 0.61%, according to data published this Tuesday by the Ministry of Labor. In this case, the increase is higher than in January of last year, when 1,444 new unemployed were added, although the reduction in unemployment over the last twelve months is 3.4%. Furthermore, this is the January with the fewest unemployed since 2008. Even so, Catalonia was not the region where unemployment grew the most in absolute numbers, as the top positions were held by Andalusia (+8,046 people), the Community of Madrid (+3,653), and Galicia. Across Spain, January saw an increase of 30,392 unemployed, bringing the total to 2,439,062 citizens registered with employment services, a 1.26% increase compared to December but a 6.17% decrease compared to January 2025.