Spain: Unemployment rate falls to over decade-low in Q2
The jobless rate declined from 14.7% in the first quarter to 14.0% in the second quarter, the lowest reading since Q4 2008. In absolute terms, the number of unemployed workers stood at 3.23 million, below the 3.35 million jobless recorded in the previous quarter.
Employment gains were centered in the services sector, which rebounded from the losses it posted in the first quarter by adding 313,200 jobs, in large part linked to the start of the tourist season. Jobs were also created in the industrial sector (+56,000). However, jobs were shed in both the agricultural (-30,400) and construction (-5,000) sectors. Temporary jobs were up 166,100 in Q2, slightly above the 164,500 permanent positions created. Meanwhile, the total workforce rose by 210,200 people in Q2 to a total of 23.0 million.