Spain Reaches Record 21 Million Members in Social Security, Thanks to Slower Growth in Job Creation During Easter Month

Spain has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 21 million members in Social Security for the first time ever, thanks to the creation of 199,538 jobs in April. Although this marks a slower pace of growth compared to last year (due to Easter falling in April in 2023), it is still higher than the average for this month in the years prior to the pandemic.

The Ministry of Labor reports that seasonal employment was a major contributor to this record number of affiliations, which now stands at 21,101,505. It’s worth noting that this figure does not reflect the total number of people employed in the country, as individuals with multiple jobs are counted separately for each employment relationship.

The slowest pace of growth over the last year was seen in interannual evolution, with a 2.36% increase of 486,516 affiliates. The hospitality sector accounted for 47% of all new jobs created, with bars and restaurants gearing up for the spring influx of tourists. This sector saw the most new positions, with administrative activities and commerce also experiencing growth.

Self-employment also saw an increase in April, with 11,987 new self-employed workers. Once again, the hospitality sector led the way in new business openings. The biggest growth in employment was seen in services sector, with additional gains in agriculture industry construction and manufacturing industries.

Despite an increase in female membership, women continued to be underrepresented in terms of overall employment opportunities compared to men. Additionally foreign workers accounted for 35% of the new jobs created