Spanish unemployment rate unexpectedly rose in Q1

According to the report from National Statistics Institute, the number of employed persons decreased by 93,400 people in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the previous quarter (-0.48%) and stands at 19,471,100. In seasonally adjusted terms, the quarterly variation is 0.76%. Employment has grown by 596,900 people (3.16%) in the last 12 months.

Employment increased this quarter by 2,600 people in the public sector and decreased by 96,100 in the private sector. In the last 12 months, employment has increased by 489,100 people in the private sector and by 107,900 in the public sector.

Employees decreased this quarter by 95,800. Those with an indefinite contract increase by 89,900, while those with a temporary contract are reduced by 185,800. In annual variation, the number of employees increases by 565,500 (indefinite employment increases by 455,100 people and temporary by 110,400). The number of self-employed workers rises by 1,600 this quarter and by 30,400 in the last 12 months.

The unemployment rate stands at 14.70%, which is 25 hundredths more than in the previous quarter. In the last year this rate has fallen by 2.05 points.