Catalonia sees biggest drop in jobless total

Unemployment fell more in Catalonia in May than anywhere else in Spain. Figures made public by the social security ministry show that there were 13,378 fewer people out of work in May than in the same month the year before.

The 3.3% drop saw the jobless total in Catalonia fall to 385,568 people, the lowest number since October 2008 (377,999). It is also the biggest drop in unemployment in the month of May since 2012.

Compared with last year as a whole, unemployment in Catalonia is down by 23,922 people, a 5.8% drop. The downward trend in the jobless rate that began in July 2013 has now continued uninterruptedly for 59 months.

In Spain as a whole, the total number of people out of work fell by 83,738 to 3,252,130 people, the lowest figures since December 2008.