Social Security registered 31,311 more contributors in June in seasonally adjusted terms to total 324,218 in the first half of the year

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the number of contributors has increased by 1.8 million workers since prior to the pandemic, following steady growth over the last 50 months.

If we look at the original series, the average figure for the number of contributors also shows a very positive first half of the year, with 556,879 more people than at the beginning of the year.

In June, this figure was close to 21.4 million contributors (21,392,889). This is 71,095 more employed people than in May and 522,949 more than a year ago (+2.5%).

Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz: "Since the entry into force of the labour market reform, contribution among the under-30s has increased at a much higher rate than average growth". Specifically, "employment among the youngest has increased by 16.3%, compared to 7.9% for the whole".

In month-on-month terms, the sector that has grown the most in the General Regime is the Hotel and Catering sector, with 32,030 more contributors (2.01%), as is usual in this month. This sector is followed by Commerce (30,304). All General Regime activities have grown except for Education, Artistic Activities and Activities of Extra-territorial Organisations and Bodies.

In year-on-year terms, the growth in Education stands out, with 155,160 more contributors (14.5%). Health Care and Social Services, with 73,616 more employed people (4.04%), and Hotels and Restaurants, with 68,331 (4.4%), have also increased, particularly in the last year.

The daily series exceeded 21.4 million contributors between 10 and 20 June and remained above 21.3 million for the rest of the month.

Higher employment growth than other major economies

Moreover, job creation compared to pre-pandemic levels in Spain (+9.1%) outpaced that of the major European countries (France, +5.2%, Italy +3.9% and Germany, +1.5%). These countries have experienced greater dynamism since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. In Spain, job creation grew by 7.2%, compared to 5% in Italy, 2.3% in France and 1.8% in Germany.

10.1 million women contributors

In June, an average of 10.1 million women were employed, 8,310 more than in May. Regarding the daily figures, every day of the month exceeded 10 million women working, and during the first 20 days of the month it exceeded 10.1 million. Female contributors already represent 47.3% of the total number of employed people.

Female employment growth since the year before the pandemic stands at 11.8%, and is 4 points higher than the 7.8% increase among men. In year-on-year terms, the figure for women contributors is also outpacing that of male contributors: 2.9%, compared to 2.1% for men. About 55% of the employment created in the last year is female.

Meanwhile, youth employment has also experienced above-average dynamism, with an increase of 15.5% since 2019, 5.9 points higher than the overall (9.6%), and 16.3% since the implementation of the labour reform, almost double the overall increase.

The number of self-employed workers is also at its highest point in the series, above the figure set in July 2008. Last month, the number of self-employed people exceeded 3,386,432, of whom 36.9% were women, an all-time high.

High added value

The increased contributor figures compared to the pre-pandemic level is particularly strong in high value-added sectors, such as Information and Communication and Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities. These activities also showed significant growth in the first half of 2024, with increases of more than 4%, compared to an average of 2.8%.

In this academic year (2023-2024), the strong pull of employment in Education stands out. The number of enrolments has grown by 95,908 compared to 38,717 in the previous academic year, and by around 45,000 on average between 2015 and 2019.

Greater stability: 3.6 million more workers with permanent contracts

There are currently more than 14 million people in employment with permanent contracts, of whom more than 9.6 million work full-time. This represents 3.63 million more contributors (3,633,774) with permanent contracts since the approval of the labour reform.

In the last year, the number of full-time workers with permanent contracts has grown more strongly (369,407 more) than those with part-time contracts (88,994 more) and those with permanent contracts (12,873 more).

The dynamism of the labour market and the increase in the quality of employment is helping to strengthen the sustainability of the pension system, with the ratio of contributors to pensioners now standing at 2.45, the highest level since 2011.

Furthermore, the number of workers on ERTEs remains at minimum levels at around 11,000 people, or less than 0.1% of all contributors.

Non official translation