Unemployment falls to 2.32 million in May as employment hits record 22.3 million
With the start of the summer season, the labour market picks up: unemployment falls by 36,323 people and social security gains almost 232,000 members, with hospitality leading job creation.
The labour market improved again in May, a month traditionally marked by the start of hiring for the summer season. The number of people registered with public employment offices fell by 36,323 compared with April, to 2.32 million, the lowest figure for a month of May since 2007, according to data released on Tuesday by the Ministries of Labour and of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.
Compared with the same month last year, unemployment decreased by 134,162 people. The decline extended across all productive sectors, although the group of people with no previous employment saw a slight increase.
Social Security affiliation also continued to rise. The system gained an average of 231,975 more contributors during the month, bringing the total to 22.3 million affiliates, the highest level on record. The seasonally adjusted figure, which strips out calendar effects, stood at 22.1 million people in work after 64 consecutive months of growth.
Record affiliation levels are being seen in different population groups, including young people, women, men, self-employed workers and foreign nationals. The latter reached 3.36 million contributors and now account for around 15% of all affiliates.
Hospitality was the sector that created the most jobs in May, with nearly 66,000 more registrations than in April. The sector is thus close to 1.68 million contributors, buoyed by increased tourism and service activity linked to the summer.
Administrative and support service activities also posted significant gains, adding around 27,000 affiliates in the last month and nearing 1.5 million workers. In year-on-year terms, health activities and social services contributed most to the rise in employment, with more than 77,000 additional affiliates.
The special agricultural scheme regained affiliates in May, adding nearly 21,000 contributors, although it still shows a negative balance compared with a year earlier. By contrast, the special scheme for domestic employees continued to lose affiliates both month on month and year on year.
Self-employment also reached a new high, with 3.46 million own-account workers. Almost 46,000 self-employed workers have joined over the past twelve months, especially in professional, scientific and technical activities. By gender, Social Security recorded 11.7 million male affiliates and 10.6 million women. The latter now account for 47.45% of all people in work.
In terms of unemployment, the number of women out of work fell to 1.4 million, its lowest level for a month of May since 2008. Even so, it remains above the just over 900,000 men registered as unemployed.
Youth unemployment fell again, to 164,955 people under the age of 25, the lowest level in the historical series. Within this group, unemployed women were fewer than men.
By sector, services accounted for the largest fall in unemployment, with 29,829 fewer jobseekers than in April. It also fell in industry, construction and agriculture. The only group that increased was that of people with no previous employment.
Regional disparities remained marked. The Balearic Islands recorded the sharpest monthly fall in unemployment and the largest increase in affiliation, with nearly 48,200 more contributors than in April. In year-on-year terms, Madrid led job creation in absolute numbers, with 127,841 more affiliates than a year earlier.
As for hiring, 572,061 permanent contracts were signed in May, accounting for 43.2% of the total. This type of contract increased both compared with the previous month and in the year to date.
Meanwhile, the latest available data on unemployment protection, corresponding to April, show that 1.78 million benefits were paid. The average amount received per beneficiary came to 1,168.30 euros a month, 22.6 euros more than a year earlier.
