Unemployment decreased by 4,789 people in May in Catalonia
There were 630,932 people registered as unemployed with the Catalan Public Employment Service. It is the third consecutive month with an unemployment drop. In Spain, unemployment decreased by 30,113 in May, leaving the total number of people without a job and looking for a new position at 4,714,122. In absolute terms, Catalonia is among the Autonomous Communities where unemployment decreased the most in May.
Madrid (ACN).- Unemployment in Catalonia has dropped by 4,789 people in May, which represents a 0.75% fall compared to April figures, according to data released on Monday by the Spanish Employment Ministry. The total number of unemployed people in Catalonia at the end of May was 630,932. May’s drop represents the third consecutive decrease in unemployment in Catalonia. However, May’s unemployment fall is the lowest decrease in a month of May since 1997, with the exception of 2008. In Spain, unemployment dropped in May by 30,113 people, leaving the total number of people without a job and looking for a new one at 4,714,122.
Despite a 0.75% decrease compared to April, unemployment increased by 6% compared to May 2011. The economic crisis has put 35,590 more people on the dole over the last 12 months.
In absolute terms, Catalonia is among the Autonomous Communities where unemployment decreased the most in May. Unemployment decreased by 7,293 people in the Balearic Islands, by 5,858 in Andalusia and by 4,789 in Catalonia.
Services, agriculture, and construction sectors
The services sector, together with agriculture and construction have been the sectors where unemployment has decreased the most in Catalonia. Within the services sector, unemployment decreased by 2,086 people in May, leaving 386,592 people registered with the Catalan Public Employment Service (SOC). However, compared to one year ago, the service sector has lost jobs. In May 2011, it had 355,169 unemployed people; in May 2009, 292,299 individuals; and in May 2007, at the start of the crisis, 152,342 people.
Agriculture and construction have also contributed to reduce unemployment in the last month. May is when many summer fruit collection campaigns start. Therefore, agriculture has reduced its unemployment figures in May by 1,147 people, having a total number of 11,067 unemployed workers. However, as is the case with the services sector, looking at the historical series, May’s figures are higher than in previous years. In May 2011, there were 10,317 agricultural workers registered on the SOC lists. In May 2009, there were 5,563 people.
Construction has contributed to the general unemployment drop with 1,120 people. However, the sector is the most hit by the crisis, since the end of the construction and real estate bubble in Spain. In total, at the end of May, there were 102,385 people registered as unemployed within the construction sector.
In addition, unemployment also decreased in the industrial sector, with 469 fewer people registered on the lists of the Catalan Public Employment Service. The total figure of unemployed people at the end of May was 97,239.
Unemployment among those who did not have a previous job increased by 33 people in Catalonia last month, leaving the total number at 33,649 individuals.
75% of the unemployment decrease corresponds to foreigners
Immigrants were those benefiting the most from the unemployment drop. From the 4,789 people that no longer are on the unemployment lists, 3,606 were foreigners, which represent 75% of the total unemployment decrease. Unemployment among immigrants decreased by 2.56% in May, which represents 137,335 foreigners registered as unemployed in Catalonia. Compared to last year, unemployment among foreigners remains stable. In the last 12 months, there have been 0.78% more foreigners without a job.
Regarding gender, 327,270 men and 303,662 women were unemployed in Catalonia at the end of May. In addition, at the end of last month there were 49,869 people unemployed under 25 years old.
32% of those unemployed do not receive any money
Besides, 1 out of every 3 unemployed people in Catalonia do not receive any money from the State. Out of the 630,932 people registered as unemployed in Catalonia, 431,863 individuals receive some sort of financial assistance (68% of the total). 232,945 individuals receive the unemployment allowance,175,903 get the unemployment subsidy, and 23,015, the Minimum Insertion Income.
More new contracts than in April, but less than a year ago
In May there were 17% more contracts signed than in April. 180,690 new contracts have been signed. However, the figure is 7.39% lower than in May 2011, which represents 14,423 fewer new contracts than one year ago. Out of the May’s 180,690 new contracts, 160,467 were temporary, while 20,223 were indefinite contracts. In relation to one year ago, temporary contracts dropped by 7.56% and indefinite contracts decreased by 6%.
Unemployment decreased throughout Catalonia
In Barcelona Province, unemployment decreased by 0.11% compared to April, which represents 502 fewer people on the SOC lists. In Girona (in north-eastern Catalonia) it decreased by 1,097 individuals, a 1.91% drop compared to April figures. In southern Tarragona it dropped by 1,977 people, a 2.75% decrease. And in Lleida (western and north-western Catalonia), there were 1,213 fewer people registered as unemployed, which represents a 3.74% drop.