The Spanish labor market once again showed strength in April, with a drop in registered unemployment of 62,668 people, placing the total number of unemployed at 2,357,044, its lowest level since 2008.
The decrease, close to –2.6% monthly, is largely explained by the seasonal boost of Easter Week and the start of the tourist season, especially in sectors such as hospitality and commerce.
This is one of the best records for a month of April in the recent historical series, consolidating the trend of unemployment reduction at the start of 2026.
Social Security affiliation accelerates and marks highs
In parallel, the average affiliation to Social Security grew by 223,685 people, raising the total number of contributors to around 22.1 million, at record levels.
The increase reflects the dynamism of employment in gross terms, driven by activities linked to tourism and services, in a traditionally positive month for the labor market.
The seasonally adjusted series points to a slight slowdown
Beyond the calendar effect, the data show a more contained evolution. In seasonally adjusted terms:
- Affiliation increases by 41,753 people
- Unemployment is reduced by 11,256 people
These records confirm that employment continues to grow, but at a more moderate pace than reflected in the gross figures, which points to a certain structural slowdown after several months of strong expansion.
More self-employed and greater weight of foreign employment
Among the highlighted elements of the month:
- The number of self-employed workers stands at nearly 3.45 million, at historic highs
- Foreign workers account for approximately 4 out of every 10 new jobs
- More than 1.25 million contracts were signed, with around 43% being permanent
- The unemployment benefit coverage rate is around 78.7%
Employment maintains its pulse, with support from the services sector
The April balance confirms that the labor market maintains its pulse in 2026, supported by domestic demand and the pull of tourism, although with signs of normalization in the pace of growth if seasonal effects are removed.
Youth unemployment continues to fall, albeit with greater volatility
Unemployment among those under 25 also registered a drop in April, in line with the overall labor market, favored by seasonality in services.
Despite the monthly improvement, youth unemployment continues to show greater volatility and dependence on seasonal campaigns, which keeps this group as one of the most sensitive to cyclical changes.
Female employment consolidates its weight in the labor market
Employment among women maintains its upward trend, with an increase in affiliation that contributes to sustaining the historical highs of the entire system.
The evolution reflects the growing incorporation of women into the labor market and the impact of sectors with a high presence of female employment, especially in activities linked to services.
What Elma Saiz, Yolanda Díaz, and Pedro Sánchez have said
The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations, Elma Saiz, has highlighted that the data reflect a "strong and dynamic" labor market, underlining the record of affiliation and the sustained progress of employment.
For her part, the second vice president and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, has emphasized the quality of employment, arguing that the labor reform continues to consolidate a greater weight of indefinite hiring and a structural improvement of the labor market.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has valued the figures as a sign of the "strength of employment in Spain", highlighting that the country chains together historic highs in affiliation and unemployment levels at lows of more than a decade.