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Spanish unemployment rises in third quarter as services sector slows
Spain’s unemployment rate increased slightly to 10.45 percent in the third quarter of 2025 as the dynamic services sector, heavily reliant on seasonal tourism and hospitality, shed jobs following the summer season. According to the National Statistics Institute, this figure represents a modest uptick from 10.29 percent in the previous quarter, reflecting a trend driven mainly by the loss of seasonally dependent positions in services and agriculture.
The gender gap in unemployment remains pronounced: men's jobless rate decreased to 8.97 percent, while women's climbed to 12.11 percent. Despite the rise in unemployment, the number of people in work reached a historic high, rising by 118,400 to total 22,387,100 employed individuals nationwide. The Socialist government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez highlighted Spain’s resilience, noting sustained labor market strength even against challenging post-summer trends.
Spain continues to outperform its peers in the European Union, recording 3.5 percent economic growth in 2024, far above the EU average of one percent. Although national unemployment remains at its lowest since the 2008 financial crisis, it is still the highest in the 27-member bloc. The government has set a goal to reduce the jobless rate to eight percent by the end of its term in 2027, aiming for near full employment.