Alicante added 1,650 new self-employed people last year despite a decline in trade

A reality that is causing the Alicante labor market to keep the self-employment percentage at almost 20% – that is, One in five contributors to Social Security- about three points above the national average.

In this way, during the month of April, the average number of students registered throughout the province. 139,728 members Special Regime for Self-Employed, i.e. 1,651 more than a year. A more modest increase than in the years before the pandemic, when between 2,500 and 3,500 self-employed workers were added every twelve months, but very significant, especially when compared to what happened at the national level.

And the number of self-employed professionals in the whole of Spain has only increased by 2,558 over the past year. Decreases recorded in 37 provinces. Some are as important as Barcelona, ​​Vizcaya or Zaragoza.

On the contrary, the number of active professionals is increasing only in 15 provinces. Malaga3,155 more self-employed than a year ago; Balearic Islandswith 2,377; Madridwith 2.259; Tenerife Santa Cruzwith 2.176; And Alicantewith the aforementioned 1,651 new participants.

sectors

While most are borders with a high tourist component, at least in the case of Alicante, they are not. hostel who is leading this growth. On the contrary, this industry just add 21 new employees self-employed in the last twelve months.

Who is at the top of the list structurewith 530 more contributors An inscription that brings together from a year ago workers, plumbers anyone electricians -benefits of incremental reforms-, also plumbers air conditioner or even, for the professionals of a business solar panelsAs the general secretary of the UPTA-PV association recalled, Xavier Pastor.

The second largest group intensifying new peaks, professional activitiesscientific and technical, with 431 additional participants lawyers with architectsall kinds of passes consultants or economists among others. 286 self-employed employees are a group that needs to be added. administrative activities and ancillary services. There are also more professionals sanitary Those who decided to start their own business (215) and the boom in housing sales after the pandemic also led them to open more. Real estate.

“among the young there is more entrepreneurial spirit and there are many who decide to establish themselves. In addition, the flat rate is an important incentive because it gives you some respite from fixed expenses until you settle in and build a client base,” explains Pastor.

less trade

This strength of new sectors contrasts with the situation experienced by more self-employed activity. tradeThis looks troublesome. Thus, the number of workers employed in this sector 750 droppedhowever, yes, it remains the one to concentrate the largest volume of participants in this regimen, with a total of 34,400.

As the president of the Alicante Merchants Guild stated, Vincent Armengol, There are a number of factors that explain this decline. generational lack of relaxation. According to Armengol, trade has ceased to be an attractive alternative for the youngest, who find it too altruistic and insecure in terms of regularity of income.

Added to this rising costs that many establishments have been hurt by the rise in electricity or rent prices, which has led to the shutters of many buildings being lowered.

Finally, the effect of the rise electronic tradeIn this case, Armengol lack of harmony more than competition from many merchants assuming the network. “Small businesses need to understand that they need to be omnichannel and that way they can compete,” says the industry leader.

Regarding the new system real income proposition The UPTA, which went into effect last January, assures that there are no major complications these months after the change is adopted. In this regard, it should be noted that the majority of freelancers will pay the same or less as in the previous system.