Canary Islands saw a significant drop in unemployment during September, with registered jobless figures falling by 4,156 to 140,303, marking a decrease of 2.88% from August and 3.49% from the previous year. This is the lowest unemployment rate in the islands since December 2007.
Long-term unemployment also reached a historic low, with 62,835 individuals affected, accounting for 44.79% of the total. This represents a decline of 491 individuals (-0.78%) from the previous month and 4,469 (-6.64%) since September 2022.
Maria Teresa Ortega, director of the Canary Islands Employment Service (SCE), described these statistics as a positive sign for the labour market. “Fewer people in long-term unemployment is encouraging,” she stated. Ortega emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to aid those who have been seeking jobs for an extended period.
Further highlighting employment trends, José Ramón Rodríguez, the general director of Labour, noted an increased volume of hiring in September. A total of 69,644 contracts were formalised, over 9,700 more than in August, with 31,341 being permanent.
Rodríguez confirmed that hiring rose across all the islands. Gran Canaria reported the most significant increase, with 25,542 contracts, up 4,074 (18.98%) from August, while Tenerife followed with 31,734 contracts, an increase of 4,045 (14.61%). Other islands also showed positive hiring trends, including Lanzarote (5,812 contracts), Fuerteventura (4,233), La Palma (1,630), La Gomera (496), and El Hierro (197).
