Unemployment rate in Spain fell to 9.87%, its lowest level since 2008, in the second quarter of the year.
According to the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE), the number of people in work rose to 22.779 million, after 486,000 jobs were created between April and June. At the same time, unemployment fell by 213,300 people, pushing the jobless rate down below 10%.
The increase in employment coincided with the start of the summer season, a period traditionally favourable for hiring, especially in services. The labour force also grew over the quarter, increasing by 272,700 to a record 25.27 million people, reflecting an increase both in employment and in the number of people seeking to enter the job market.
The services sector accounted for most of the new jobs, driven by tourism activity, although construction and industry also made gains. Agriculture, by contrast, was the only sector to lose workers during the period.
Catalonia recorded the largest increase in employment in absolute terms, while the Balearic Islands posted the strongest percentage growth.
