Spain sets new employment record with 22.8 million in work and jobless rate falls below 10%

The Labour Force Survey for the second quarter puts the number of people in work at 22.8 million after creating 486,000 jobs, and cuts the unemployment rate to 9.87%, its lowest level since 2008. The Spanish labour market once again hit record highs in the second quarter of the year. The Labour Force Survey (EPA) published on Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE) puts the number of people in work at 22.779 million, after 486,000 jobs were created between April and June. At the same time, unemployment fell by 213,300 people, pushing the jobless rate down to 9.87%, the first time it has dropped below 10% since 2008. The increase in employment coincides with the start of the summer season, a period traditionally favourable for hiring, especially in services. The labour force also grew over the quarter, rising above 25.2 million people, reflecting an increase both in employment and in the number of people seeking to enter the job market. The services sector accounted for most of the new jobs, driven by tourism activity, although construction and industry also made gains. Agriculture, by contrast, was the only sector to lose workers during the period. The regions generating the most jobs were the Balearic Islands, Murcia and Catalonia. The EPA also shows that employment growth continues to rely mainly on salaried, stable work. Almost three quarters of employees now have permanent contracts, and temporary work kept shrinking, particularly in the private sector. Full-time positions again accounted for the bulk of new hires. On the back of these figures, the labour market has now chalked up several consecutive quarters of sustained growth and is closing in on the goal of 23 million people in work, a level that the government considers achievable if the current pace of job creation is maintained.