The number of employed people reached 21,584,700 in the second quarter of 2024 with seasonally adjusted data, the highest figure in the historical series, according to data from the Active Population Survey (EPA) published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). With raw data, employment reached almost 21.7 million people.
In the last quarter, 80,000 jobs were created in seasonally adjusted terms (0.4% more) and 434,700 jobs in raw terms, with a growth of 2.05% compared to the first quarter.
The data confirm the historic performance of employment in the second quarter, with record figures for employment and also for the active population, which increased by 212,100 people to 24.4 million, also the highest in the series, which demonstrates the confidence of workers in the dynamism of the labour market.
In this context, unemployment fell by 222,600 people in the last quarter, 7.47%, to 2,755,300 people. The unemployment rate continued to fall to 11.27%, the lowest since 2008, with a drop of more than one point in the last quarter.
Youth unemployment also continued to decline, by more than one point in the last three months, to 26.6%, its lowest level since 2008.
It is also a more stable type of employment, with an increase of 272,000 permanent workers in the last quarter, reaching almost 15.5 million, with the temporary employment rate at 15.95%. Also, from April to June, full-time employment increased by 433,500 people.
This improvement in the labour market has been widespread, with an increase in employment and a reduction in unemployment in practically all Autonomous Communities and economic sectors.
It is also worth highlighting the great dynamism of the private sector, which for the first time exceeds 18.12 million employees, having created more than 98% of jobs in the last quarter. And also the positive evolution of hours worked, which in the second quarter increased by 5.6%.
This good performance of the labour market is reflected in the improvement of the situation of families, with a decrease of almost 110,000 in the number of households with all their active members unemployed in the last quarter to 868,300, the lowest level in history, and an increase of 220,800 in those with all their active members employed, to 11,765,800.
Evolution of the main indicators in the last year
Employment increased by 429,300 people in the last year (+2%), reaching 21,684,700 people. Employment grew in all sectors, except Agriculture. The sector in which employment increased the most was Services, with 207,900 more workers, followed by Industry, with 148,200 and Construction, with 74,600.
As regards the Autonomous Communities, employment increased in most regions over the last year. The largest increases occurred in Valencia, with 97,600 more employed people, Andalusia, 82,600 and Madrid, with 70,400.
The private sector accounted for the majority of jobs created in the last 12 months, with the creation of 372,200 jobs, bringing the total to over 18.12 million private jobs, compared to the 54,100 created by the public sector, which stands at just over 3.55 million jobs.
Full-time employment also continued to increase, with an increase of 259,900 people in the last year, far exceeding part-time employment, which grew by 66,400.
By gender, female employment has increased by 254,300 people in the last year, exceeding 10 million women in employment. Meanwhile, male employment also rose year-on-year, by 172,000 workers.
As regards unemployment, it fell by 52,900 people (-1.88%) in the last year, bringing the total number of unemployed down to 2,755,300, meaning that the unemployment rate fell to 11.27%. Unemployment fell in all sectors in the last year, especially in Agriculture, with 12,400 fewer unemployed, and Industry with 8,400.
It should be noted that over the past 12 months, the number of people who lost their jobs more than a year ago has decreased by 21,000 and the number of people seeking their first job has decreased by 10,600.
By Autonomous Communities, the largest annual unemployment declines occurred in Andalusia, with 79,500 fewer unemployed, Madrid, with 18,600 fewer, and the Canary Islands, with 17,600 fewer.
The number of unemployed women fell by 45,400 over the past year, compared with 7,500 among men.
In the last 12 months, the number of households with all members unemployed decreased by 50,500 and the number of households with all members employed increased by 211,600.