Unemployment rises again in October despite the rebound in employment

BarcelonaExcept in with a few exceptions, such as the post-Covid recovery in 2021October is typically a slow month for the job market. This year, unemployment has risen again in Catalonia by 2,423 people, a 0.75% increase, slightly less pronounced than last year, according to data published Tuesday by the Ministry of Labor. In total, there are now 324,495 people registered as job seekers with employment services, 10,344 fewer than a year ago. This is the lowest figure for an October since 2007, just before the Great Recession hit. However, in absolute numbers, Catalonia was the third autonomous community with the largest increase in unemployment, behind only Castile and León and Andalusia.

Regarding employment, the Principality added 19,205 people affiliated with Social Security during the month of October, an increase of 0.5% compared to the previous month, according to statistics published this Tuesday by the relevant ministry. Despite being in below this summer's recordsIn the last twelve months, 80,008 new jobs have been added (+2.1%), and Catalonia is once again approaching 3.9 million workers (specifically, there are now 3,882,857). This is the best October on record in terms of total employment.

A regional analysis of this data also indicates that the Barcelona area was the driving force behind this increase in employment in Catalonia. This region added 34,854 jobs (+1.20%) and was the only one to register positive growth. Conversely, Girona lost 8,017 jobs (-2.1%); Lleida lost 4,915 (-2.27%); and Tarragona lost 2,717 (-0.76%). In the case of unemployment, this indicator rose in all four provinces, but proportionally it had the greatest impact in Girona, where, coinciding with the end of the tourist season, the 641 newly unemployed represented an increase of 2.29%. The Secretary of Labor of the Catalan Government, Paco Ramos, celebrated the "good health" of the Catalan labor market at a press conference, but also admitted that "there is room for improvement" and "further growth" in Social Security affiliations. "We are facing a solid and stable labor market, which we hope will continue for as long as possible and allow us to guarantee shared prosperity in the quantity and quality of jobs," Ramos emphasized. Despite the fact that Catalonia has generated half the number of jobs this month compared to the Community of Madrid, the high-ranking official of the Generalitat did not express concern about this potential overtaking And he assured that we are not "in competition" with anyone.

Catalonia continues to face some dark spots in the unemployment figures, especially regarding youth unemployment. In October, this stood at 24,116 people, 1,437 more than a year ago (+6.3%). However, Ramos emphasized that 80% of these unemployed people under 25 have been registered with public employment services for less than six months. On the other hand, the other major challenge, long-term unemployment, did decrease by 4,700 people compared to last year, to 159,207. This group represents 49% of all unemployed citizens who are actively seeking work.

Record number of employed people in the State

Across Spain, unemployment rose by 22,101 people, a 0.91% increase. The ministry headed by the Second Vice President of the Spanish government, Yolanda Díaz, highlighted that this increase is three times lower than usual and that the total number of unemployed (2,443,766) is the lowest for an October since 2007. By sector, unemployment fell in construction (+18,496), industry (+1,148), and agriculture (+1,270). Meanwhile, Social Security affiliations recorded their best October on record, excluding 2021, with 141,296 new jobs, as noted by the ministry led by Elma Saiz. This improvement brings the total number of Spanish workers to over 21.8 million.

"One of the big news stories this month is that women's employment is growing well above the average: there are now almost 110,000 more women employed than in September. That's 10.3 million women working, the highest figure in the series, and they represent 47.4% of our workforce. We're getting closer to parity."