National Insurance contributor figures in tourism

Number of tourism-related jobs posts new record in 2018

2019.1.18

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Employment numbers in tourism activities maintains its path of growth that began at the start of 2014. In 2018, the year-on-year increase stood at 4%, meaning that contributor numbers in tourism activities accounts for 12.8% of all jobs in Spain.

The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, considers that these figures "confirm the strength of the Spanish tourism sector and consolidate this sector of economic activity as a major driver of job creation, thus strengthening the Spanish economy. Furthermore, with the start-up of the Master Plan for Dignified Work, we have contributed to improving the labour conditions of sector workers, thus meeting the government's commitment to quality jobs".

According to the figures published on Friday, the increase was recorded in all branches of tourism: hotel and catering saw a rise of 52,455 contributors (39,638 more in the food and drink services sub-sector and 12,819 more in accommodation services), other tourism activities saw a rise of 36,127 contributors, while the travel agency sub-sector saw a rise of 3,853 workers.

In 2018, the number of salaried workers in the tourism sector, which represents 79.8% of the total, grew by 4.9% year-on-year. By branch of activity, salaried employment grew in all areas, particularly in other tourism activities (up 6%), travel agencies (up 5.2%) and in hotel and catering (up 4.4%). Within this latter sub-sector, food and drink services was the activity to enjoy the largest increase, up 4.5%.

Self-employment in the tourism sector, which accounts for 20.2% of the total, grew by 0.8%. Travel agencies enjoyed the largest percentage rise, up 10.8%. Other tourism activities - hotel and catering and tour operators - posted a slight year-on-year decline of 0.1%.

Figures by autonomous region

In 2018, total employment in hotel and catering and travel agencies/tour operators grew in all autonomous regions.
In absolute figures, the largest increases were posted in Andalusia, the Region of Madrid, the Region of Valencia, Catalonia, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. These six regions accounted for 78% of the absolute year-on-year increase. Andalusia, with 5.3% growth, and the Region of Murcia, with 4.6%, were the regions to enjoy the largest year-on-year rises.

Non official translation