Spain's unemployment posts biggest third-quarter rise since pandemic, InfoJobs says
SPY•Spain's unemployment rose by 95,900, or 3.8%, in the third quarter of 2026, the largest quarterly increase since the pandemic, while the unemployment rate climbed to 10.2%. Employment increased by 73,600, its weakest third-quarter gain since 2019.
1. Labor market figures
Spain's unemployment rose by 95,900, or 3.8%, in the third quarter of 2026, and the unemployment rate increased to 10.2% from 9.9% in the previous quarter. Employment grew by 73,600, or 0.3%, the weakest third-quarter gain since 2019.
2. Workforce composition
The labor force expanded by 2.3 million since the third quarter of 2019, driven almost entirely by immigration. Temporary employees made up 13% of total employment, down from 23% in the second quarter of 2019 following the 2022 labor reform.
