Spain: Unemployment rate inches down to over decade-low in Q3
The jobless rate ticked down from 14.0% in the second quarter to 13.9% in the third quarter, the lowest reading since Q4 2008. In absolute terms, the number of unemployed workers stood at 3.21 million, slightly below the 3.23 million jobless recorded in the previous quarter.
Employment gains were centered in the services sector by adding 87,700 jobs, in large part in the hospitality industry amid the tourist season. Jobs were also created in the industrial sector (+51,200). However, jobs were shed in both the agricultural (-63,000) and construction (-6,500) sectors. Temporary jobs were up 76,600 in Q3, well above the 25,100 permanent positions created. Meanwhile, the total workforce rose by 53,200 people in Q3 to a total of 23.1 million.