National Insurance contributors employed in tourism sector rise by 3.2% in December

Employment in tourism activities has grown in the last year by 75,026 workers registered with the social security system, and now accounts for 12.4% of all contributors to the Spanish economy.

Since the approval of the Master Plan for Dignified Work in August 2018, 90,681 workers in the hotel and catering sector have enjoyed better working conditions, according to figures included in the first report on the initial phase of the 2019 Action Plan drafted by the Ministry of Work, Migration and Social Security.

The State Secretary for Tourism, Isabel Oliver, very positively assesses these figures, which "as well as posting an all-time record in contributor numbers in a month of December, show that tourism has consolidated as a great vector for job creation, growing at a faster rate than other economic sectors".

Isabel Oliver highlighted the positive results of the Master Plan for Dignified Work, which "has improved the quality of the jobs of thousands of workers in the hotel and catering sector, proving that growth can go hand-in-hand with social justice", and pointed out that "the new government will remain committed to policies that contribute to the creation of stable and quality jobs".

Contributors by sector and region

Of the 75,026 new contributors in December, 44,228 correspond to the hotel and catering industry. The heading "other activities" rose by 28,868 new contributors, while the heading "travel agencies" saw an increase of 1,930 workers. The report highlights the positive performance of this branch of activity since December 2014, which had previously seen a decline in employment figures for six straight years, from 2008 to 2014.

Employment grew in the tourism sector in all autonomous regions. In absolute figures, employment in hotel and catering and travel agencies/tour operators enjoyed the largest rises in Andalusia, the Region of Madrid, Catalonia and the Region of Valencia. In absolute figures, Andalusia was the region that saw the largest rises for salaried workers and the self-employed. Lastly, in relative figures, there were significant year-on-year rises in Andalusia (up 4.1%) and the Region of Valencia (up 4.1%).

Results of Master Plan for Dignified Work in hotel and catering sector

Since the approval of the Master Plan for Dignified Work in August 2019, 51,522 legally fraudulent temporary employment contracts have been transformed into permanent employment contracts, 2,235 extensions have been made to the working day and 36,924 unlawful jobs have been uncovered thanks to the work and commitment of the staff at the Employment and Social Security Inspectorate.

Non official translation