• In 2018 the number of employed increases by 566,200 people and stands above 19.5 million
  • Job creation accelerates in the fourth quarter, registering the largest increase in that period since the beginning of 2016
  • Unemployment decreases by more than 462,000 people, 12.28% year-on-year and stands at 14.45%, with a decrease of 2.1 points in the last year
  • The number of households with all their assets unemployed decreases by 157,100 and the number of households with all their assets occupied increases by 355,400.

Employment grew by 3% in 2018, the highest rate in the last three years and higher than the expected economic growth, which highlights the strength of the Spanish economy and its ability to generate employment.

At the end of 2018, 19.5 million employees were exceeded, after increasing 566,200 in the last year, according to data from the Active Population Survey (EPA) published today by the National Statistics Institute (INE). Job creation accelerated in the fourth quarter, with the largest increase since the beginning of 2016.

Salaried employment increased by 531,000 people in this period, with a greater prominence of indefinite hiring, with 363,700 people compared to temporary employment, with 167,300. Also, in these twelve months full-time employment has increased by 476,800 people, reducing the number of involuntary part-time jobs by 80,200.

By sectors, employment is created mainly in Services, with 428,100 more employed, followed by Construction, with 136,300 and Agriculture, with 4,900. On the contrary, the Industrial sector registered in the last year 3,000 less employed.

Job creation in 2018 has been widespread in all Autonomous Communities. The positive evolution of Andalusia stands out, with 118,600 more employed, the Community of Madrid with 108,600 and Catalonia, with 75,000.

By sex, job creation is accelerated both among men and women, with similar growth rates of 3% and 2.9% respectively.

Unemployment is reduced to 14.45% in 2018

Unemployment is reduced by 462,400 people in the last twelve months, standing at 3,304,300. In the fourth quarter of 2018 unemployment has fallen at an interannual rate of 12.28%. With this reduction the unemployment rate drops more than two points in the last year and stands at 14.45%, the lowest since the end of 2008.

The female unemployment rate is still higher, standing at 16.26% compared to 12.87% of the male, reducing both more than two points in the last year.

Low unemployment in all sectors, mainly in services (64,100 less unemployed), followed by agriculture (-25,900), construction (-19,200) and industry (-2,900).

During this period, unemployment drops by 281,100 people among those who lost their jobs more than a year ago and is reduced by 69,300 among people looking for their first job.

In the last year, the number of households with all unemployed assets has been reduced by 157,100, while those with all their members occupied have increased by 355,400.



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