Data from the Labor Ministry showed that the number of unemployed in Spain unexpectedly increased last month, offsetting the December decline. However, the number of unemployed remained at a 15-year low.
According to the report, the number of unemployed increased by 70,744 people, to 2.91 million people, after falling by 43,727 people in December. Economists had expected a reduction in the unemployed by 15,200. Traditionally, the number of unemployed people has tended to rise in January as temporary hires over the holiday season in the retail and tourism industries are laid off. A separate report showed that Spain gained 57,726 net formal jobs in January to 20.3 million jobs.
Compared to January 2022, registered unemployment decreased by 214,681 people (-6.87%).
Compared to December, the number of unemployed women increased by 49,937 (+2.95%), to 1,740,085 people. Unemployment among men amounted to 1,168,312 people, while the total number of unemployed men increased by 20,807 people (+1.81%). Compared to January 2022, unemployment among men decreased by 113,303 people (-8.84%), and among women - by 101,378 people (-5.51%). Unemployment among young people under the age of 25 was 7,753, an increase of 3.96% compared to December.