January unemployment rises slightly, still lowest for the month since 2008

Catalonia recorded its lowest January unemployment level since 2008, with 325,214 people out of work.

The figures, published on Tuesday by the Labor Ministry, show a 3.4% decrease in unemployment compared with January 2025.

However, unemployment rose slightly by 0.6% compared with December 2025.

This increase is typical at the beginning of the year and has occurred every year for the past fifteen years.

By contrast, Social Security affiliation rose again to 3.82 million people, marking the strongest January on record since at least 2012.

This figure represents a 1.96% increase compared with January 2024, despite the usual seasonal decline seen at this time of year.