Intersection of Alcalá Street with Gran Via in Madrid
The number of national insurance contributors in the tourism sector continued to grow in the first month of the year. In January, contributors linked to tourism activities increased in absolute terms by 104,437 persons, reaching a total figure of 2.62 million workers. This represents an increase of 4.1% over the same month last year. In relation to the labour market of the country as a whole, which grew by 2.3% year-on-year this month, tourism employment accounts for 12.5% of the total number of registered workers.
The change in the number of contributors was also positive in all branches of tourism in January. In hotels and catering, the figure increased by 57,513 (16,652 in accommodation services and 40,861 in food and beverage services) and in travel agencies it rose by 2,821 workers. In other tourism activities the figure increased by 44,103 workers.
Wage earners increase by 4.9%
In January, the number of employees in the tourism sector increased by 4.9% compared to the same month of the previous year, representing 81.1% of the total number of contributors in this sector.
By branch of activity, salaried employment increased in travel agencies and tour operators (3.9%) and in hotels and restaurants (4.4%), and within the latter, it increased by 6.1% in accommodation services and by 3.9% in food and beverage services.
Self-employment in tourism, which represents 18.9% of the total number of contributing workers, increased by 1.2 %. In travel agencies, there was a 5.5% year-on-year increase in the number of self-employed people.
Andalusia, where employment is growing the most
Employment in hotels and catering and travel agencies and tour operators as a whole increased in all Autonomous Communities in January 2025.
The largest increase was in Andalusia, both in absolute figures (13,671 more workers) and in the year-on-year rate of change (4.8%).
Catalonia, with 7,812 more workers, the Community of Madrid, with 7,787, and the Canary Islands with 7,734, complete the ranking of employment growth in absolute values.
In relative terms, after Andalusia, the Canary Islands (4.6%) and Cantabria (4.5%) grew the most.
Non official translation
