Catalonia begins 2024 with a slightly higher unemployment rate than the previous quarter
According to the data published in the Active Population Survey (EPA) for the first quarter of 2024, Catalonia has registered an unemployment rate of 9.48%. This figure represents an increase of three tenths over the previous quarter, but is still more than a point below the levels of a year ago.
Despite this slight increase, it should be noted that this is the second consecutive quarter in which the unemployment rate remains below 10%. The last time Catalonia recorded an unemployment rate below 10% in a first quarter was in 2008, with 7.52%.
Increase in the number of unemployed in three months, but decrease in a year
During the first three months of 2024, the number of unemployed in Catalonia has increased by 12,800 people, reaching a total of 396,100 unemployed. However, if we compare this figure with that of the same quarter last year, we can see a decrease of 32,400 unemployed.
This indicates that, despite the occasional increase in the number of unemployed, in general there has been an improvement in the labor market in Catalonia in the last year.
Employment record in a first quarter
Despite the increase in unemployment, the labor market in Catalonia has achieved a new employment record in the first quarter. With a total of 3.78 million employed, this figure represents the third highest figure recorded to date.
In the last year, Catalonia has generated 192,200 jobs, which represents an increase of 5.35% compared to the previous year. However, between January and March of this year, there has been a drop of 17,000 employed compared to the previous quarter.
State level data
At the state level, the unemployment rate has also increased in the first quarter of 2024, standing at 12.29%. The total number of unemployed in Spain is 2.97 million.
In terms of employment, Spain has passed the barrier of 21 million employed at the beginning of 2024, although it has recorded a drop of 139,700 workers compared to the previous quarter. However, 615,800 jobs have been created in the last year.
Catalonia excels in job creation
Catalonia has been the fourth autonomous community that has created the most employment in the last year, with an increase of 5.35%. This figure places it behind Melilla (+7.59%), Cantabria (+6.4%), Asturias (+5.74%) and tied with Navarre (+5.35%).