Spain's Unemployment Drops Below 10% for the First Time Since 2008
El Salto
- Spain's unemployment rate fell below 10% to 9.87% in Q2 2026, the lowest level since 2008.
- Total employment reached 22,779,000, an increase of 486,000 workers from the previous quarter.
- The number of unemployed persons dropped below 2.5 million.
Employment Breakdown
- By Sector: Growth was driven by Services (+394,000), Construction (+60,000), and Industry (+38,200), while Agriculture lost 6,200 jobs.
- Private vs. Public: Private sector employment grew by 501,600, while public sector jobs decreased by 15,600.
- Demographics: Employment increased by 236,300 for men and 249,700 for women. Spanish nationals and foreign workers saw similar gains, with 246,000 and 240,000 new jobs respectively.
Government Stance
- Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz highlighted that the country has moved past the 20-million employed threshold, describing it as a historic milestone.
- The growth occurred despite international economic challenges, including trade tensions and regional conflicts.