Registered unemployment in Catalonia dropped by 2.26% in May compared to April

Madrid (ACN).- By the end of last month, 14,829 fewer people were registered at the Catalan Public Employment Service (SOC), which leaves the total number of registered jobseekers at 642,166 individuals, according to data released on Tuesday by the Spanish Employment Ministry. The May figures represent a 2.26% drop compared to data from April, which means that registered unemployment has decreased for the last three consecutive months in Catalonia. In the whole of Spain, unemployment decreased by 1.97% in May, with 98,265 fewer people registered as being unemployed. This leaves the total number of people registered as being without a job and looking for one at 4,890,928 individuals in Spain. However, May is a month when unemployment tends to decrease thanks to new contracts to fill temporary summer positions, mostly related to the tourism industry. Nonetheless, last month registered the largest unemployment drop in the month of May in Catalonia since the start of the economic crisis, with the only exception being 2010, when unemployment decreased by 18,920 people (a 3.19% monthly drop). At a Spanish level, this year’s was the highest drop in absolute terms since 1996, when data can be compared; in relative terms, unemployment decreased by 2.47% in May 2007. Looking at annual figures, unemployment increased during the last 12 months at both a Catalan and Spanish level. From May 2012 to May 2013, unemployment increased by 1.78%, an growth of 11,234 people. In the whole of Spain, it grew by 3.75%, with 176,806 more registered jobseekers than a year ago.

The Catalan Government praises the “positive horizon” but states that figures are still “insufficient”

The Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, stated that the data is “good news” and confirms that the economic policy of the government he chairs is “an adequate” one. However, he added that “there is work to do” and “further efforts to be made” until sustainable and stable economic growth is reached. The Catalan Government welcomed “the positive horizon” shown by the May figures but it considered them to be “insufficient” as yet, explained Ramon Bonastre, Secretary for Employment and Labour Relations. However, Bonastre also warned that the employment created for the summer time will not be consolidated if economic policies do not change at Spanish and, in particular, at European level.

‘Mini-jobs’ are not welcomed but part-time jobs are to be studied in Catalonia

The Catalan Business and Employment Minister, Felip Puig, rejected the so-called full-time ‘mini-jobs’ since he believes that they increase work fragility. Puig was talking about them since a few days ago the Bank of Spain issued a report recommending their implementation and, yesterday, an advisory body of the Catalan Government made the same recommendation. Puig underlined the difference between ‘mini-jobs’ – which are poorly-paid full-time positions – and part-time jobs – which mean people work less hours but at a similar wage per hour. The Catalan Minister said they “will study” increasing the offer of part-time jobs, as a formula to reduce unemployment levels in Catalonia and increasing labour market’s flexibility.

Unemployment has been decreasing in Catalonia for the last 3 consecutive months

Registered unemployment reached a historical record high in February, with 665,176 people registered at the Catalan Public Employment Service (SOC). However, since then, it has been decreasing each month. In addition, the unemployment drop experienced in May is the most significant one since the crisis started, with the only exception being May 2010, when the number of jobseekers decreased by 18,920 individuals compared to the previous month. In May 2012, the number of people registered on the SOC lists decreased by 4,789; in 2011, by 6,199; in 2010, by 18,920; and in 2009, by 221. 2008 and 2001 are the only years with an unemployment increase in May in Catalonia, with 5,860 more people on the SOC lists in 2008 and with 462 more jobseekers in 2001.

Tourism leads the drop in unemployment

Looking at the economic sectors, unemployment has mostly decreased in activities related to the tourism industry. However, it has dropped in all sectors. The number of people in the service sector decreased by 10,303, in construction by 2,054 individuals, in the industrial sector by 1,428 jobseekers and in agriculture by 1,229 people.

Unemployment drops throughout Catalonia

The number of people registered at the SOC lists has decreased in all the Catalan Provinces. Barcelona – where two thirds of the Catalan population lives – is the Province with the biggest drop in absolute terms, with 8,655 fewer jobseekers. This means that the total number of people without a job and looking for one in Barcelona reached 481,679 individuals, 1.77% less than a month ago.

The Province of Girona, in north-eastern Catalonia (where the Costa Brava is located), had a 3.58% monthly decrease compared to the April figures. By the end of May there were 2,111 fewer people on the SOC lists in Girona, leaving the total number at 56,898 individuals. In the Province of Tarragona, in southern Catalonia (where the Costa Daurada is located), registered unemployment dropped by 2.79%, with 2,076 less jobseekers. This means that the total number of unemployed people in Tarragona Province reached 72,354 individuals. Finally, in Lleida (north-western Catalonia), there was the biggest drop in relative terms, with a 5.98% reduction. Registered unemployment was reduced by 1,987 in Lleida and the total figure was set at 31,235 individuals.

High unemployment drop among immigrant population

The number of registered jobseekers among the immigrant population in Catalonia decreased by 5,681 people in May, leaving the total figure at 129,385 individuals. It is the lowest total unemployment figure among foreign nationals since August 2012 and it represents a 4.21% monthly drop compared to data from April.

A 12.77% monthly increase in new contracts in Catalonia

The number of new contracts signed in Catalonia over May increased by 12.77%, compared to April. 186,596 new contracts were signed, which is a 0.63% drop compared to May 2012.

36% of the people on the SOC lists did not receive any money

In Catalonia a third of the people registered as unemployed do not receive any public money. 240,628 people did not receive an unemployment benefit, social grant or the Minimum Insertion Income in April (these data are delayed by a month compared to the rest). They represent 36.63% of the people registered on the SOC lists. Furthermore, only 218,050 people out of the 656,995 registered jobseekers received the unemployment benefit. The rest had already exhausted the unemployment benefit and they received social grants.