Unemployment rose by 19,517 people in July, reaching a total of 2,311,499, the lowest figure for this month since 2007

The number of people registered in the State Public Employment Service Offices (SEPE) at the end of July fell by 19,517 people (-0.85%) compared to the previous month.

Registered unemployment stood at 2,311,499, the lowest figure for this month since 2007.

Year-on-year, unemployment has fallen by 93,107 people (-3.87 per cent), a sign of the strength of our labour market.

The change in registered unemployment for July is atypical and is due to a number of factors. Firstly, this month is becoming less and less affected by seasonality. In fact, between July 2010 and July 2019, the number of people registered as unemployed fell by an average of 45,467. Following the Labour Reform, the average decline stands at 4,981 people.

Unemployment by economic sector

Compared to June, registered unemployment increased in the Services sector by 8,221 people (0.50%), in Construction by 2,433 people (1.53%), and among the group with no previous employment by 8,268 people (3.65%).

There were slight changes in Industry (an increase of 473 people, or 0.27%) and Agriculture (an increase of 122 people, or 0.17%).

The increase among the group with no previous employment is primarily linked to the ongoing extraordinary regularisation process, which provides an opportunity - previously unfeasible - for workers who were already in our country but lacked rights to access the services of public employment offices.

Unemployment by sex and age

Female unemployment stood at 1,396,016, following an increase of 7,707 women (0.56%) compared to June.

In year-on-year terms, the figure has fallen by 63,967 women (-4.38%).

Male unemployment stood at 915,483, an increase of 11,810 people (1.31%).

Compared to July 2025, male unemployment fell by 29,140 (-3.08%).

Unemployment among young people under 25 fell in July by 238 people (-0.15%) compared with the previous month. The total stood at 159,562, the lowest figure in the historical series.

Unemployment by autonomous community

Registered unemployment fell in absolute terms in three autonomous communities: Andalusia (-9,661 people), Extremadura (-767 people) and Cantabria (-250 people).

Contracts

The total number of contracts registered in July was 1,587,141. Of these, 617,211 were permanent contracts, representing 38.89% of all contracts.

Benefits in June

The number of beneficiaries at the end of June was 1,724,237.

The coverage of the protection scheme in June stood at 80.96%. This is the highest figure for the month of June in the historical series.

In June 2026, the average monthly expenditure per beneficiary - excluding the agricultural subsidy in Andalusia and Extremadura - was €1,147.90.

Total investment in June amounted to €1.9421 billion.

Non official translation