Job creation continues to grow despite the rise in unemployment in February

BarcelonaSocial Security affiliation continued to grow in February in both Catalonia and Spain, although, in parallel, unemployment rose again for the third consecutive month. However, the number of unemployed last month was lower than the figures recorded a year ago, according to employment data published this Tuesday by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The same pattern was repeated in Spain, with the total number of unemployed workers increasing, but with figures lower than those of February 2015. Specifically, at the end of February in Catalonia there were 327,253 workers seeking employment, 2,039 more than a year ago. in JanuaryUnemployment in Catalonia rose by 0.63%, according to data published Tuesday by the Ministry of Labor. This marks the third consecutive month of rising unemployment in the Catalan labor market, which reached its lowest level since 2008 (when the financial crisis and housing bubble burst) in June, with just over 315,000 unemployed. Despite these three months of increases, the unemployment figures remained 2.11% below the levels of February of last year, when there were 7,088 more unemployed than last month. Nationwide, unemployment also increased, rising by 3,584 people (0.15%) compared to January, reaching 2,442,646 unemployed. As in the case of Catalonia, despite the increase, unemployment remained below the levels of a year earlier, and in the last 12 months it fell by 150,803 people, a 5.84% decrease. By autonomous community, only Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha experienced a greater increase in unemployment in absolute numbers than Catalonia. By region, the bulk of job losses were concentrated in Barcelona, ​​the most populated, where unemployment increased by just over 2,000 people, while in Lleida and Tarragona the increases were 130 and 17 more unemployed, respectively. Girona, on the other hand, ended February with an average of 126 fewer unemployed than the previous month.

Paco Ramos, the Catalan government's Secretary of Labor, stated that the labor market followed its "usual evolution" for this time of year last month. It's important to note that February is typically a month with low job creation, peaking at Christmas, Easter, and during the summer months thanks to increased hiring in labor-intensive sectors such as hospitality and retail, coinciding with the tourist season. Despite the increase in the number of unemployed workers, Ramos insisted that labor market and employment growth is "sustained" and evolving "robustly." However, he pointed out that there are uncertainties in the near future regarding the economic outlook due to trade tensions stemming from US tariffs, armed conflicts, and geopolitical tensions, which could negatively impact the global economy and, consequently, the labor market in Spain and Catalonia, which—in his opinion—has been struggling "in recent years."

Job creation also slowed in February. In Catalonia, 187,134 new employment contracts were signed, of which 77,841 – 44% – were permanent. This represents a decrease of just over 2,000 new contracts compared to those signed in January.

However, the data shows that the figures are unequal by gender. Specifically, women represent 58% of the unemployed in Catalonia, a fact that has been criticized by unions. The UGT union stated in a press release that unemployment "continues to disproportionately affect women" and lamented that the main negative trends in the labor market, which perpetuate precarious employment and low wages in many sectors, are becoming "chronic." The UGT's statements clash with the viewpoint of the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, who, in a message on social media, celebrated the data as positive from the perspective of women's employment: "Spain is moving towards reducing the gender gap: there are more women working than men." More jobs than ever before. More jobs.

More members

The rise in unemployment contrasts with the growth in employment: the number of workers registered with Social Security increased again in February. In Catalonia, the increase was 23,564 more contributors than in January, a rise of 0.63%, bringing the total to more than 3.85 million registered workers. Compared to the same month last year, the increase is 74,742 people, or 1.95%. Across Spain, the total number of registered workers also rose by 97,000 between January and February, reaching 21.67 million, the highest figure ever recorded for a February, according to data published this Tuesday by the Ministry of Social Security. This figure represents an increase of 2.24%, or 474,000 people, compared to February 2025.