Spain’s unemployment rate rose to 10.45% in the third quarter of 2025, even as the number of people with jobs rose to a new record, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) said on Friday.
Unemployment rose by 60,100 people to reach 2.6 million, bouncing back from the lowest level since the first quarter of 2008 as more people searched for a job, the INE said. ALSO READ: Spain’s unemployment level falls to 2.4m – the lowest July figure in 18 years.
The jobless rate in one of the world’s fastest-growing developed economies was 10.45% from July to September, up from 10.29% in the preceding quarter, INE figures showed.
Services, which include many short-term jobs in the important tourism and hospitality industries that end after the summer holiday season, accounted for most of the increase in unemployment, alongside agriculture.
The change produced a clear gender disparity, with unemployment among men falling to 8.97% but climbing to 12.11% for women.
But the number of people in work rose by 118,400 to reach a total of 22,387,100 – which socialist (PSOE) Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hailed on X as Spain ‘again showing its strength’.
The European Union’s fourth-largest economy has been outperforming its peers, recording 3.5% growth in 2024 compared with a one-percent EU average. ALSO READ: IMF confirms Spain’s lead as fastest-growing advanced economy for two years in a row.
This year the jobless rate has reached its lowest levels since the 2008 global financial crisis but remains the highest in the 27-nation bloc.
The left-leaning government has targeted bringing it down to around 8% by the end of its term in 2027, which it says corresponds to full employment.
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Encuesta de Población Activa #EPA. Tercer trimestre 2025 @es_INE
El número de ocupados aumentó en 118.400 personas respecto al trimestre anterior y se situó en 22.387.100. En términos desestacionalizados la tasa de variación trimestral fue del 0,40%. El empleo creció en 564.100… pic.twitter.com/QuAnGKsDCc— INE España (@es_INE) October 24, 2025
Hoy, España vuelve a demostrar su fortaleza con un nuevo récord de ocupación: 22,4 millones de personas trabajando.
Más estabilidad, más oportunidades, más futuro.
Seguimos avanzando.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) October 24, 2025
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