Tourism employment reaches 2.75 million national insurance contributors

National insurance contributors linked to tourism activities increased 5.5% in May compared to the same month the previous year to stand at 2,752,872. This is the best May in the historical series, according to data published by Turespaña. Tourism employment now accounts for 13.3% of the total number of contributors in all sectors of the Spanish economy.

For the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, "today's figures are extraordinary news at the start of a summer that will also be historic in terms of both the number of tourists and spending: Employment is growing and, even better news, the quality of employment is growing. The figures show that the tourism sector has not only recovered quantitatively, but that qualitatively it is making a great effort to improve levels of care, service and categorisation, while at the same time professionals in the sector enjoy greater social protection and guaranteed labour rights".

Growth of 6.7% in the number of employees

In May, the number of employees in the tourism sector grew by 6.7% compared to a year ago, this type of worker now accounting for 81.9% of the total number of people employed in the tourism sector. The sub-sector where the number of employees increased the most was the tour operators branch of activity (13.4 %). In addition, the number of self-employed workers increased by 0.5% in May.

All sectors of activity increase

In May, national insurance contributor numbers linked to tourism activities increased year-on-year in absolute terms by 144,272 workers, and the variation in contributors was positive in all tourism branches.

In the hotel and catering branch of activity, the figure increased by 87,544 contributors (55,257 in food and beverage services and 32,287 in accommodation services), while in travel agencies the increase was by 6,571 workers. In addition, employment in other tourism activities increased by 50,157 people.

The Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands are the autonomous communities where employment is growing the most

As in previous months, in May all autonomous communities saw an increase in national insurance contributors linked to the tourism sector.

In absolute figures, the largest increases were in Andalusia, Catalonia, the Community of Madrid, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. In relative terms, the Balearic Islands (8.1%) and the Canary Islands (7.4%) saw the highest increases.

Non official translation