January brings record unemployment figures to Spain

Unemployment in Spain has now reached record levels, and statistics released today now show the total number to be 4,048,493. In January 124,890 more people joined the dole queue according to figures compiled by the Spanish State Employment Agency (INEM), and completes the worst three consecutive Januaries since records began.

The services industry was worst hit who provided 82% of the recorded losses, followed by the manufacturing and construction industries. Unemployment increased in all areas of the country – apart from the Balearics, which saw a fall of 510. The largest increases in unemployment came from Cataluña and Andalucía.

Celestino Corbacho, the Minister for Employment, has said that he does not expect that these numbers will start to fall until the end of 2010.

These statistics will be the cornerstone of the Government’s proposals on labour reform which will be presented to the House on Friday of this week.