Over 3.8m workers in Catalonia in May, setting new all-time high

Catalonia saw a new number of registered workers in May, with 3.8 million employees in May, setting a new all-time high just ahead of the summer season, according to data shared by the Spanish labor and social economies ministry on Tuesday.

Compared to 2023, May 2024 closed with 90,131 workers more, 2.43%, and an increase of 1.12% on April figures (42,194 new employees).

The new figure sets a new all-time high, surpassing April 2024's data, when 3.76 million people were registered in the employment scheme, and marks the fourth consecutive month with an increase in the number of workers.

Meanwhile, unemployment continued to decrease, with 330,782 jobseekers, a drop of 6,248 people compared to April 2024 —a 1.85% drop compared to the previous month, or 1.58% less on data from May 2023—.

Overall, 21.32 million workers were registered in Spain, setting a new record. There were 220,289 new workers compared to April and 506,395 more compared to May 2023.

Unemployment figures in Spain continue to drop and have reached the lowest number for a month of May since 2008, with 2,607,850 jobseekers.

Authorities hail 'unprecedented figures'

Catalonia's labor secretary, Enric Vinaixa, celebrated May's "unprecedented figures" in a press conference on Tuesday to assess the data. 

The ministry official highlighted that unemployment numbers were the lowest on record since 2008. "Catalonia continues to lead Spain in reduction of unemployment," he remarked, adding that the territory enjoys "a strengthened world of work." 

Vinaixa, however, assured that there is still "room for improvement," pointing out the "significant" percentage of people who have been out of work for more than two years.

The secretary also hailed the "significant" reduction in youth unemployment and people over 45.

Asked about the quality of employment, Vinaixa admitted that the new jobs in May have been seen in areas such as agriculture, coinciding with the harvesting campaign, or tourism ahead of the summer season, but the official assured that seasonality has improved compared to previous years. "Now the saw teeth are much less pronounced," he argued.