Spain's Q3 labour market shows sharp private job losses and rising unemployment

Spain's third-quarter labour report indicates a worsening employment outlook, with private-sector jobs decreasing by roughly 16,300 while public-sector employment expanded by about 89,900, pushing the total public workforce above 3.7 million. Gains were confined to the services sector, which added 235,600 positions, whereas agriculture, industry and construction each lost between 49,300 and 58,300 jobs. The number of unemployed rose by 95,900, lifting the unemployment rate by 31 hundredths of a point.

Both male and female employment rose modestly, but the increase in temporary contracts (about 68,000) outpaced the rise in indefinite contracts (around 22,100), signalling poorer job quality. Household employment also weakened, with fewer families reporting all members employed and more reporting all members unemployed. The analyst calls for labour-market reforms to stimulate genuine private-sector growth.