Spain hits 22.3 million workers as unemployment falls to lowest since 2008

National figures set new records

Spain’s labour market scored new highs in May 2026. The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration reported that average Social Security affiliations reached 22.3 million, crossing that threshold for the first time. The monthly gain of 231,975 posts was the second-largest May increase in the series.

Registered unemployment dropped by 36,323 from April, leaving about 2.3 million people looking for work — the lowest figure since 2008. The decline was driven largely by services, with hospitality and administrative activities adding the most jobs over the month.

Regional snapshots

The improvement was widespread. In Catalonia, unemployment fell by 6,900 (2.19%) to 307,627, with Pimec’s secretary general Josep Ginesta attributing much of the drop to seasonal tourism activity. The Balearic Islands posted an unemployment rate of 3.5%, the lowest of any region, and the regional government declared “full employment” with only 23,607 registered jobless.

In the city of Madrid, unemployment fell 1.6% to 130,572, its best May reading since 2008. Extremadura saw a 2.11% decline (1,328 fewer unemployed) and added nearly 5,000 affiliates. Cantabria’s employment councillor Eduardo Arasti called the figures “the best data for a May in the historical series” after unemployment shrank 2.34% to 27,272. The Canary Islands cut unemployment below 145,000 for the first time since December 2007, though the archipelago’s 963,972 affiliates remained short of its December 2025 record.

Migrant contribution and labour force expansion

The gap between the large affiliation gain and the more modest unemployment drop reflects an expanding labour force. According to the ministry, people born outside Spain now account for 15% of all employed workers.

Self-employment also continued to edge upward. In Cantabria, the number of self‑employed workers was higher than a month, a year, two years and three years ago, Arasti said.

We have more self‑employed than a month ago, a year ago, two years ago and three years ago.

Official reactions amid lingering concerns

Regional leaders welcomed the numbers.

Whoever wants to work, works.

Cabrer added that the Balearics had seen the biggest salary increase in Spain in 2025, at 6.3%. Josep Ginesta argued that no competitive country should pass up seasonal opportunities, even if cyclical patterns do not solve structural problems.

Trade union CC.OO. of Catalonia, however, lamented that youth unemployment had not budged despite the overall improvement and called for “an effort by public authorities to bring down these levels of youth joblessness.” In the city of Madrid, the unemployment rate for those aged 16–24 did fall 5.1% year on year, but foreign nationals saw a 1.2% annual increase in registered unemployment.

It is essential that the public authorities make an effort to reduce these levels of youth unemployment.