2024 begins with lowest number of jobless workers in January since 2008

The new year has started with a slight increase in the registered unemployed workers.

2024 opened with 3,690 more workers out of jobs compared with December, a rise of 1.07%, according to data published on Friday by Spain's ministry of labour.

Despite the slight increase, the total number of people out of work in Catalonia stood at 347,071, the lowest figure of any January since 2008, when there were 282,897 people registered without work.

During the first month of the year, 34,912 jobs were lost, a drop of 0.94% compared to the previous month. This means that Catalonia has seen four consecutive months of decline in total number of jobs.

However, the total number of contributors to social security has risen to 3,674,897 people, another new record for the historical series for January.