Spaniards Back to Work After Tourists Return

Unemployment fell at a record pace in Spain in August. This is mainly because the country’s crucial tourism sector recovered after corona measures were relaxed. The Spanish Ministry of Labor reports this.

 

The number of unemployed fell by almost 83,000 or 2.4 percent compared to July. It is the sharpest drop in unemployment in Spain since measurements began in 1996. The number of unemployed fell for the sixth consecutive month. Employment rose in all sectors except construction.

Spanish Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz called the numbers “great news” on Twitter. According to her, it confirms that Spain has “overcame the worst of the crisis”.

The number of foreign tourists in Spain rose 78 percent year-on-year in July to 4.4 million. However, that number is not yet close to the level reached in the same month in 2019, before the corona pandemic. Official figures for the month of August are not yet available, but there is said to be a further recovery. Spanish holidaymakers would partly make up for the absence of foreign visitors.

The Spanish government has said it plans to attract about 45 million foreign tourists this year. However, that is about half compared to 2019.