Spanish unemployment rose by 44,419 in August 2026 as summer contracts ended

National figures and seasonal slowdown

Spanish registered unemployment increased by 44,419 people in August 2026, a 1.92% month-on-month rise that brought total joblessness to 2,355,918, according to data from the Ministry of Work and Social Economy. Despite the monthly increase, the total figure was the lowest for the month of August since 2007, reflecting an annual reduction of 2.91% (70,593 fewer unemployed individuals compared with August 2025). The monthly rise occurred primarily across the services sector, which accounted for nearly 29,000 newly registered jobseekers as summer tourism contracts concluded. Every autonomous community recorded an increase in unemployment with the exception of the autonomous city of Ceuta, where jobless claims dropped by 1.76% (148 people).

Regional variations across autonomous communities

Catalonia posted the largest percentage increase among autonomous communities, rising 4.63% (14,594 people) to reach 329,468 registered unemployed. The Balearic Islands followed with a 3.31% increase, Murcia with 2.71%, Madrid with 2.51%, and Cantabria with 2.42%. Galicia registered a 2.20% increase (2,369 people) to 109,691, remaining flat compared with August 2025, while total Social Security affiliations in the region stood at 1,134,483 despite losing 1,466 positions from July. Castilla y León added 2,010 unemployed workers (+2.09%) to reach 98,323, while shedding 3,102 Social Security affiliates (-0.30%) to stand at 1,019,088 cotizantes. In Andalusia, unemployment increased by 3,394 people (+0.64%) to 530,256, representing the lowest August level in the region since 2007.

Migrant regularisation and public services

Regional authorities and trade unions pointed to the central government's extraordinary migrant regularisation process as an additional factor expanding regional registries. In the Valencian Community, where unemployment grew by 2.03% (5,847 people) to 294,519, regional employment councillor Susana Camarero stated that 1,958 new applicants (33.5% of the monthly increase) came directly from this process. Total unemployed individuals linked to regularisation in Valencia reached 6,593 by August 31, representing 10.7% of unemployed foreign nationals and 2.2% of the region's overall unemployed population. In Catalonia, trade union CC.OO. de Catalunya asked the regional government to increase resources for the Servei d'Ocupació de Catalunya to meet the higher administrative demand.

The entry of new individuals into public employment services will generate greater demand for guidance, training and workplace support in the coming months.

Labour market composition and union concerns

Union representatives emphasized ongoing structural imbalances across regional labour pools, particularly regarding youth and women. In Castilla-La Mancha, where unemployment rose 1.24% to 116,120, youth unemployment increased by 3.99%, while women comprised 75,359 of the total unemployed compared with 40,761 men. Isabel Carrascosa, employment secretary for UGT Castilla-La Mancha, noted that the overall trend reflects standard summer fluctuations rather than systemic contraction.

It is important to understand that right now we are not talking about job destruction, but about seasonality.

In Seville, where joblessness climbed by 1,457 to 132,842 and Social Security affiliations dropped by 5,875 (-0.69%) to 841,980, CCOO employment secretary Jorge Lebrón urged authorities to address persistent entry-level job insecurity.

The most educated generation in our history remains trapped in uncertainty. A precarious first job, combined with the impossibility of accessing affordable housing and a decent wage, blocks their emancipation.