Unemployment in Catalonia falls in December, but increased by 9.17% in 2011
At the end of 2011 there were 614,244 people registered as unemployed in Catalonia, 9.17% more than a year ago. However, unemployment dropped in December by 1,425 people, after it stabilised in November, leaving September and October as the worst months of the year. In stark contrast to Catalonia, the rest of Spain experienced an increase in unemployment in December and 2011 ended with 4,422,359 people signing on the register, 7.86% more than at the end of 2010.
Madrid (ACN).- According to data released on Tuesday by the Spanish Ministry for Employment and Social Security, 2011 ended with 614,244 people registered as unemployed in Catalonia. This represents a 9.17% increase compared to data from the end of 2010. In absolute terms, there were 51,571 more unemployed people in Catalonia than one year ago. However, the figures show that there was a reduction in the number of people seeking work in Catalonia in the final month of the year with 1,425 fewer jobseekers. December is the second consecutive month to display a stabilisation in the unemployment figures after four straight months with increases. In Spain as a whole, 2011 ended with 4,422,359 unemployed people, 7.86% more than one year ago. Over the last year, 322,286 more people have signed on to the unemployment register. Unlike Catalonia, unemployment increased in the rest of Spain in December with 1,897 more people signing on.
The service sector leads the unemployment reduction in Catalonia
In December, the service sector employed 1,678 people in Catalonia. The agricultural sector had 221 fewer people registered as out of work. In addition, the number of jobseekers without a previous job also fell in December, with 2,320 people off the register. However it was not all positive news with the construction sector adding 2,067 more people to the Catalan Employment Service’s lists. Industry also added 727 more people to the dole queues. Looking at the total figures, the service sector continues to account for the majority of the unemployed in Catalonia, with 375,535 people. Construction is responsible for 101,619 people, industry for 94,517 jobseekers, and agriculture for 11,492. Furthermore, 31,081 people without a previous job are registered as unemployed in Catalonia.
Girona is the Catalan province with the smallest increase in unemployment
The Province of Girona (north-eastern Catalonia) was the area where unemployment has increased the least over the past year. It grew by 6.55% in 2011, totalling 58,620 unemployed people. Unlike Girona, Tarragona was the province with the highest unemployment increase over the last year, with 11.03% more jobseekers at the end of 2011 compared to the end of 2010. The year ended with 70,401 people registered as unemployed in Catalonia’s most southern province. The province of Barcelona, which concentrates two thirds of the Catalan population, closed the year with 454,961 people on the dole queues of Catalonia’s Public Employment Service (SOC), which represented a 9.16% increase compared to the figures from December 2010. Finally, in Lleida, in western Catalonia, unemployment was 30,262 at the end of 2011, a 10.24% increase compared to the previous year.
Around 90% of new contracts were temporary
In the past year, 2.13 million new contracts were signed in Catalonia, 89.11% of which were temporary. In Spain as a whole, 14.43 million new contracts were signed in 2011, 92.31% of which were temporary.