Catalonia creates one in four new jobs in February

BarcelonaThe labour market provided another piece of good news in February, with a significant rise in Social Security affiliation and a reduction in the total number of unemployed workers, according to data published on Tuesday by the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Security. After the job losses we are used to in January, the second month of the year was much better than usual, especially in Catalonia. The number of members increased by 23,373 people in the Principality, which places the total number of employed at 3.77 million. Thus, Catalonia contributed practically one in four new workers to the whole of the State, where another 100,340 members were registered in February, up to a total of 21,196,154.

"We have returned to the momentum that has characterised our economy in recent years, and which we hope will continue this year," stressed the Secretary of Labour of the Generalitat, Paco Ramos, during his assessment of the statistics. Catalonia was the autonomous community that created the most jobs in February, followed by the Balearic Islands, with another 14,670 members. In fact, more than doubled the number of jobs created in the Community of Madrid, where the increase was 10,744 people.

As for unemployment, in Catalonia, the number of unemployed citizens last month stood at 334,321, which represents a reduction of 2,318 people (0.69%) compared to with the month of January. Compared to a year ago, February ended with 12,052 fewer unemployed than in the same month in 2024, a reduction of 3.48%. In fact, Catalonia is the second autonomous community with the greatest reduction in unemployment in February, only surpassed by the fall of 6,074 people in the Valencian Community. Unemployment fell in nine territories and rose in eight, with the sharpest rise in unemployment recorded in the Community of Madrid, with an increase of 4,172 people compared to the previous month.

Across the State, unemployment fell last month by 0.23%, that is, by 5,994 people, which places the total number of unemployed workers at 2,593,449, the lowest figure in 17 years in February. Compared to the same month in 2024, unemployment has already fallen by 166,959 people in Spain, a drop of 6.05%. "In a context of global uncertainty, with obvious geopolitical problems and some elements that impact the smooth functioning of an economy, the [Spanish] labour market offers resilience as a result of the latest structural changes that we have incorporated, such as the labour reform," said the Secretary of State for Labour, Joaquín Pérez Rey, during his assessment of the data.

More members in education and hospitality

As regards the number of Social Security contributors, the figure rose to 21.2 million in Spain, according to the state government. This is an increase of 100,000 new contributors in February, the largest rise recorded since February 2007, just the year before the outbreak of the financial crisis. This boost is explained above all by the contribution of sectors such as education (+31,118 affiliates), hospitality (+27,076 affiliates) and manufacturing (+20,572 affiliates). "It is a success for the country," said the Minister of Social Security, Elma Saiz, during the press conference following the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. Reported by Nuria Rius Montaner.

In this sense, he also stressed that the bulk of the figures are explained by the labor reform approved by the Spanish government and in force since 2022. "Since the entry into force of the labor reform, there are 1.5 million more workers affiliated to Social Security. The impact is clearly seen if we compare ourselves with the United Kingdom," he added. In addition, he insisted that not only is employment created, but it is "higher quality employment." "Since then, permanent contracts have increased [since the entry into force of the labor reform] and workers with temporary contracts have also fallen," said Saiz.