Registered unemployment in Catalonia decreased by 1,126 people in March due to Easter holidays

Madrid (ACN).- The number of people registered as unemployed in Catalonia was reduced by 0.17% in March compared to the February figures, according to data released on Tuesday by the Spanish Employment and Social Security Ministry. The total number of unemployed people registered at the Catalan Public Employment Service (SOC) was 664,050 by the end of March, 1,126 fewer than in the previous month. However, this is 25,083 more people than a year ago, at the end of March 2012, which means an annual increase of 4.04%. In the whole of Spain, the number of unemployed people decreased by 4,979 individuals in March 2013. This is the first unemployment decrease in the month of March in Spain since 2008, mostly due to the Easter holidays arriving earlier this year than most of the other years. However, despite last month’s unemployment drop, there were still more than 5 million people officially registered as unemployed in Spain at the end of March, 5,035,243 individuals to be exact. Furthermore, there were 284,376 more people registered as unemployed than were registered a year ago, which is an annual increase of 5.99%. Youth unemployment in Spain has dropped by 5.73% over the last year.

The 4,979-people unemployment decrease registered last month represents the first unemployment drop in Spain in the month of March since 2008. Furthermore, it is particularly striking compared to a year ago. In March 2012, unemployment increased by 38,769 people compared to the previous month.

The service sector was the only one responsible for March’s unemployment drop, mostly thanks to activities linked to the tourism industry. In the whole of Spain, there were 15,822 fewer individuals unemployed in the service sector, which means a 0.50% decrease compared to the previous month. However, unemployment increased in the rest of the economic sectors. In the primary sector (agriculture, livestock and fishing), unemployment increased by 3,331 people, a monthly growth of 1.58%. In the industrial sector, unemployment grew by 0.30%, putting 1,638 people on the dole. Unemployment in the construction sector increased by 0.10%, adding 772 more people to the employment service’s lists. Finally, the number of unemployed people who have never worked before grew by 5,102 individuals, an increase of 1.37%.

In Catalonia, unemployment decreased in all the economic sectors except among people who have never worked before. In the primary sector, there were 11 fewer jobseekers at the end of March than there were a month ago. In the industrial sector, 263 fewer individuals were registered as unemployed. In construction, the drop was 92 fewer people and in the service sector there were 1,145 fewer jobseekers. However, unemployment in Catalonia among those who have never worked before grew by 383 individuals over the last month.

Youth unemployment has dropped by 5.73% over the last year

Male unemployment in Spain increased by 2,465 in March, reaching 2,506,091 people, a 0.10% monthly increase. Female unemployment decreased by 7,444 individuals, dropping to 2,529,152 people, a drop of 0.29% compared to the February figures. Looking at the evolution over the last year, male unemployment grew by 134,309 men (an increase of 5.66% increase) and female unemployment grew by 150,067 women (an increase of 6.31%). As to young unemployment (those below 25 years old), the number of those registered on the employment service’s lists throughout Spain decreased by 154 in March and by 29,167 people over the last 12 months, representing an annual drop of 5.73%.

The number of new contracts decreases in Spain

The number of new contracts signed in Spain during the month of March reached 969,627 documents, which is a drop of 8.07% compared to the same month in 2012, when 85,090 more contracts were signed. However, March 2012 had three more working days because it did not coincide with the Easter holidays, although at the same time this holiday period increases the number of new jobs in the tourism sector. In Catalonia, 153,180 new contracts were signed in March, a drop of 4.67% compared to March last year, when 7,508 more documents were signed.

Fewer permanent contracts

Out of the contracts signed during March in Spain, only 10.11% of them were permanent contracts (98,065 jobs). This represents a drop of 16.56% compared to March 2012, when 19,466 more permanent contracts were signed in Spain. In March 2013, 871,559 temporary contracts were signed.

Unemployment decreased in the whole of Catalonia except in the Province of Barcelona

The number of people registered on the Catalan Public Employment Service lists decreased throughout Catalonia with the exception of the Province of Barcelona, in which two thirds of the Catalan population is concentrated. The number of unemployed people in Barcelona increased by 1,662 individuals and reached 494,170 jobseekers. This represents a 0.34% monthly increase and a growth of 4.32% compared to March 2012, when there were 20,477 fewer unemployed people.

In the Province of Tarragona – southern Catalonia, where the Costa Daurada is located – unemployment decreased by 1,341 individuals, dropping to 76,083 jobseekers by the end of March. This represents a 1.73% monthly drop but a 4.11% yearly increase, since in March 2012 there were 3,001 fewer jobseekers.

In the Girona Province – north-eastern Catalonia, where the Costa Brava is located – unemployment also decreased. By the end of March there were 1,390 fewer jobseekers than were registered in February, representing a 2.24% monthly drop. The total number of unemployed people reached 60,637 jobseekers in March, 2.15% more than were registered a year ago (1,274 more people).

Finally, in the Province of Lleida – north-western Catalonia – the number of people registered on the SOC lists fell by 57 individuals in March, representing a 0.17% monthly drop. The total number of jobseekers in Lleida by the end of last month reached 33,160 people, 3.27% more than a year ago, when there were 1,051 fewer unemployed people.