Unemployment in Catalonia Rises in Summer Like It Hasn't Since 2012

The EPA for the third quarter of 2026 places Catalonia's unemployment at its worst summer record since 2012. Foment del Treball warns of a slowdown in the labour market.

According to moncloa.com, the Active Population Survey for the third quarter of 2026 shows the worst unemployment figure for Catalonia for the period from July to September since 2012. The warning comes from Foment del Treball in its economic report, which describes a labour market losing momentum: unemployment is rising and job creation is barely advancing.

This figure has two interpretations. The first is the increase in unemployment, the highest for a third quarter since 2020. The second is more significant: if we discount the exceptional impact of the pandemic, we must go back to 2012 to find a larger increase in Catalonia, a year when the Spanish economy was experiencing its second recession.

The third quarter is usually a favourable period. The tourist season on the coast and in Barcelona boosts hiring in hospitality and retail, so an increase in unemployment during this period is more striking. If the best quarter of the calendar ends with more unemployment, the margin for the last part of the year shrinks.

Additionally, there is growth in the active population. More people are seeking employment, which is positive in the long term, but it puts pressure on the market when the demand for workers does not keep pace. The queue for unemployment benefits is lengthening mainly because new candidates are entering, not so much because jobs are being destroyed on a large scale.

The comparison with the rest of Spain also does not favour Catalonia. Foment points out that unemployment is rising more sharply on a quarterly basis than in the rest of the country and that employment is advancing less. Moreover, while unemployment in Spain is decreasing year-on-year, in Catalonia it is rising compared to the same period last year.

This decoupling, according to the EPA data published by the INE, breaks a trend that persisted for much of the recovery following the pandemic. It necessitates a review of the weight of industry, commerce, and services in the Catalan productive structure, and an assessment of whether active employment policies are reaching long-term unemployment and youth unemployment.

Foment calls for "strengthening the capacity to generate opportunities within the productive fabric" and giving more power to active policies to absorb the growth of the active population. In practice, it requests more job orientation and training linked to what companies demand, with less distance between the Catalonia Employment Service and the market. The message is directed at the Govern and social agents.

The warning comes as the Govern prepares its spending priorities for 2027. Active employment policies are often among the first budget items to fall short, as they cost money today and yield results in the medium term. For those seeking work in Catalonia, the next practical step is to follow the offerings and orientation services of the Catalonia Employment Service.