Spain recorded a record 22.779 million employed persons during the second quarter of 2026 [1].
This shift marks a significant economic milestone as the nation's unemployment rate has dropped below the psychological 10% barrier for the first time since 2008 [1]. The trend indicates a sustained recovery in the labor market following years of volatility.
According to data from the Encuesta de Población Activa (EPA), the number of jobs increased by 486,000 compared with the first quarter of 2026 [1]. This growth pushed the national unemployment rate down to 9.87% [1].
The current surge follows a strong performance in the previous year. In 2025, Spain created 605,400 jobs [2], ending that year with a total of 22,463,300 employed persons [2]. The continued expansion into the second quarter of 2026 suggests that the growth is not merely seasonal but part of a broader upward trajectory.
Economic analysts monitor the 10% threshold as a primary indicator of labor market health in the region. The last time the unemployment rate remained below this level was during the first quarter of 2008 [1] — just before the onset of the global financial crisis.
The EPA report serves as the official benchmark for employment statistics in Spain. The current figures represent the highest level of total employment ever recorded in the country's history [1].
“Spain recorded a record 22.779 million employed persons during the second quarter of 2026”
The breach of the 10% unemployment threshold represents a symbolic and structural shift for the Spanish economy. By surpassing employment levels seen before the 2008 financial crisis, Spain is demonstrating a capacity for job creation that exceeds its previous historical peaks, suggesting a more resilient labor market than in previous decades.
