Catalonia hits new employment record with over 3.9 million workers

Catalonia has set a new employment record, reaching 3.94 million workers in the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest Labor Force Survey (EPA).

This marks an increase of over 94,000 workers compared to the first quarter of the year.

The region’s unemployment rate also fell significantly, dropping to 8.11%, its lowest level for this period since 2008, after decreasing by more than one percentage point over the past year.

This represents a major improvement following a rise in unemployment in the first quarter.

Between April and June, the number of unemployed people in Catalonia dropped to 348,300, nearly 30,000 fewer than in Q1, marking a 7.5% decrease.

Compared to the same period in 2024, unemployment fell by around 50,000 people, or 12%.

This positive trend was mirrored across Spain. For the first time ever, the country surpassed 22 million employed workers, with over half a million more people employed than in the previous quarter.

Among Spain's autonomous communities, the Balearic Islands saw the largest percentage increase in employment, up 16.5%, followed by Extremadura (5%), La Rioja (3%), and Murcia (3%).

Catalonia ranked sixth in percentage growth but led the country in absolute job creation, adding 94,600 new jobs, slightly more than the Balearic Islands, which added 91,800.

Across Spain, the unemployment rate decreased by 236,000 people, dropping to 2.5 million and reaching a rate of 10.3%. This is the lowest second-quarter unemployment rate since 2007.