Catalonia records highest November employment despite minor job losses

Catalonia’s labor market shed 2,555 jobs in November compared with October, a drop of 0.07%, although total employment (Social Security registrations) remains high at 3.88 million.

In fact, this marks a record high for any month of November and the fifth-highest for any month since records began in 2012.

Despite the slight monthly decline in jobs, overall employment grew by 2.19% year-on-year, adding 83,258 workers, although this represents the slowest annual growth since the pandemic in 2020.

Registered unemployment fell by 3,119 people (-0.96%) to 321,376, the lowest November figure since 2007. Compared with November 2024, unemployment dropped by 11,156 (-3.35%).

November marked the third consecutive year in which month-on-month employment (Social Security registrations) fell compared with October. The monthly decline was largest in Girona (-2.54%), Tarragona (-1.68%), and Lleida (-0.46%), while Barcelona saw a 0.47% increase.

Unemployment among foreign workers fell 4.76% year-on-year, compared with a 2.99% drop among Spanish nationals.

Spain

Across Spain, monthly employment fell by 14,300 jobs in November (-0.07%), leaving a total of 21.8 million workers, while unemployment fell by 18,805 people (-0.77%).

Year-on-year in Spain, total employment rose 2.45%. Unemployment dropped 6.23%, roughly double the decline seen in Catalonia.