Over 40% of Spanish Firms Report Labor Shortages in Q2 2026 as Unemployment Stays at 10.5%
Updated
Updated · CaixaBank Research · Jul 14
Over 40% of Spanish Firms Report Labor Shortages in Q2 2026 as Unemployment Stays at 10.5%
1 articles · Updated · CaixaBank Research · Jul 14
Summary
More than 40% of Spanish firms said labor availability constrained them in Q2 2026, even as the country still carries one of the euro area's highest jobless rates.
10.5% unemployment in 2025 masks tighter hiring conditions: vacancies were nearly 50% above 2019 levels, and foreign-born workers filled 40% of newly created jobs.
35% of Spain's unemployed in Q1 2026 had been out of work for more than a year, while the share of jobless people aged 55 or older has nearly doubled from pre-2008 levels and about half have low education.
Around 6% unemployment among 25-to-49-year-olds jobless for less than a year, and sub-5% rates in sectors covering 40% of employment, suggest the main problem is matching harder-to-place workers to demand.
The report says Spain's labor market still has enough overall slack to support growth, but argues active employment and training policies are needed to bring long-term, older and low-skilled workers into jobs.