Unemployment falls in November in Catalonia to 564.541 people

Barcelona (ACN).- The number of jobless in Catalonia has fallen for the first time in November, according to the figures published by the Occupational Service of Catalonia (SOC). In total, there are 564.541 Catalans without a job. This means a decrease of 1.955 people, in comparison with last month. The reduction has been mainly fuelled by an improvement in the job market, especially in the industrial and construction sectors. Despite this positive figure in Catalonia, unemployment continues to rise in the rest of Spain, and there are now up to 4.110.294 people without a job.

The minister of Employment of the Catalan Government, Mar Serna, welcomed the figures but warned that 'we are still in a crisis'. However, Serna argued that Catalonia is 'in a better position' for recovery than the rest of Spain and will 'get out of the crisis before and be stronger'. 

In total, 190.000 job contracts have been signed this November. The vast majority of them- up to 88,4%- are, however, temporary. Only 11,6% of contracts signed in Catalonia are permanent positions. Despite the Labour Reform introduced last summer, which aimed at improving the type of contracts given to Spaniards, temporary contracts are still pervasive, and its number has increased by 7,68% in comparison with last year. Similarly, the number of permanent contracts have continued to fall, and has been 4,4% lower than in 2009.

All Catalan regions except Girona, in north-east Catalonia, have experienced a decrease in unemployment. The area of Barcelona has been where unemployment has fallen the most, with a decrease of 0,63% and a total number of jobless coming to 419.303 people. In Tarragona there was a 0,14% fall, while in Lleida the decrease was 0,18%. Despite the good figures in Barcelona, Lleida and Tarragona, unemployment in Girona increased by 1,55%.

It is the first time in 15 years in Catalonia that unemployment has fallen during November, a month which is traditionally bad for job market figures. In Barcelona and Lleida, the fall registered this month continues a trend started in September, but that was missed in October, when unemployment rose. In Tarragona, these figures represent the first decrease in jobless people in the last three months. Data in Girona, unfortunately, has been negative for four consecutive months.

The service sector contains the greatest number of jobless people, at 334.086. Although the industry and construction sectors have been creating jobs lately, they are still ranked second and third as economic sectors with the highest number of unemployed. Each sector contains 95.482 and 94.100 unemployed, respectively. In agriculture, there are up to 10.196 people without jobs. The most worrying figure though, is the increase in the number of young Catalans unemployed that are looking for a job for the first time. According to the figures published this Wednesday, their numbers reach 30.677.

Up to 52,2% of unemployed in Catalonia are men, while 47,8% are women. Young people under 25 represent 8,8% of the total of unemployed. There are almost 50.000 youngsters looking for a job but unable to find one. The figure is a 0,1% increase in comparison with October.

Among immigrants, unemployment has fallen by almost one point in comparison with 2009, from 10% down to 9,22%. On a monthly basis, the number of jobless immigrants fell by 1.993, 1,54% lower than in October.