Spanish unemployment rises as seasonal jobs drop
Spain’s jobless rate increased to 10.45 percent in the third quarter as seasonal workers left tourism and hospitality positions after summer ended. The figure rose from 10.29 percent between April and June, with service sector losses driving most of the change.
Women faced an unemployment rate of 12.11 percent, while men saw their rate fall to 8.97 percent. Total employment climbed by 118,400 to 22,387,100, as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised the economy’s resilience.
The nation grew by 3.5 percent last year, compared with 1 percent across the European Union. Spain maintains the bloc’s highest unemployment despite reaching its lowest levels since the 2008 financial crisis.
The government aims to reduce joblessness to eight percent by 2027, which officials define as full employment. Agriculture and services were among the sectors where positions declined between July and September.
