Social Security affiliates linked to tourist activities increased by 3.9% in July compared to the same month of the previous year to stand at 2,807,626. This is the best July in the historical series, according to data from Turespaña.
Tourism employment now accounts for 13.6% of the total number of affiliates in the national economy. In relation to July 2019, when there were 2,618,636 affiliates, the growth is 7.2%.
For the acting Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, “tourism employment is symbolising an extraordinary 2023, and the data demonstrates the strength of our business fabric and the unquestionable drive of the Government after the pandemic. Spain is the reference in tourism and the most competitive country in this sector”.
According to the active population survey (EPA) corresponding to the second quarter of the year and published last week, from April to June, one in four jobs created by the Spanish economy is linked to tourism. “The sector is being supported as never before to face the challenge of the transformation of tourism in our country at a time when demand is increasing and the quality of service is increasing,” adds Gómez.
Wage earners increase
In June, the increase in absolute terms was 104,981 new workers registered for employment compared to the same month of the previous year. This is a growth that affects all branches of tourism activity.
While in the hospitality industry there were 62,504 affiliates (24,002 in accommodation services and 38,502 in food and beverage services), in travel agencies and tour operators it reached 5,758. The rest of tourist activities also registered an increase of 36,719 workers.
In July the number of wage earners in the tourism sector, which represents 82.1% of the total affiliated workers in said sector, increased by 4.7% compared to the same month of the previous year. Self-employment in tourism, which represents 17.9% of all affiliated workers, increased by 0.3%.
Raises in all Autonomous Communities
In the month of July 2023, employment in the hotel industry and travel agencies/tour operators as a whole increased in all the Autonomous Communities. In absolute figures, the largest increases occurred in Andalusia (12,040 more affiliates), Catalonia (10,313), Comunidad de Madrid (10,022), the Balearic Islands (9,188) and the Canary Islands (9,025).
In relative terms, the interannual increases in the Canary Islands (5.9%) and the Balearic Islands (5.4%) stand out.
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