Over 45 years old, the recovery work showed the strongest gains until the latest milestone in the province, with three quarters of membership growth occurring during this period. As the population ages, this pattern has become more noticeable in recent years, though the recent twelve months show a sharper shift than before.
This trend is confirmed by the latest detailed data on Social Security registered workers from the Generalitat’s Statistics Portal. It also shows that the majority of new jobs created last year were permanent and full-time in nature.
From June 2022 to the same month of the current year, the Alicante province reached a total of 731,096 active workers, an increase that, while smaller than the more than 40,000 jobs created in the previous year after the end of the pandemic, highlights a striking age-based breakdown of growth.
The largest growth occurs in the 50 to 54 age group, which added 4,516 new participants, followed by 4,002 people aged 60 to 64 who joined the workforce. The 16 to 24 age group, though representing only a third of the new members with 3,883, is still seen as the group expected to drive the biggest future employment surge, given that this is the entry point for many into the labor market.
Aggregating all groups above age 45 yields 17,644 more people employed compared with a year earlier, representing nearly 74% of the total employment improvement in the period. In this timeframe, growth was distributed relatively evenly above and below the pivotal age threshold.
Aging population
This evolution is largely explained by the province’s population dynamics. For example, the number of older workers has nearly doubled in a decade as the baby-boom generation ages, bringing a reshaped employment landscape with more experienced candidates in the labor pool.
Around 8,800 Alicante retirees earn more than 3,000 euros per month
This situation is linked to a shortage of opportunities for younger workers in several occupations, prompting employers to recruit older candidates to fill vacancies in traditional sectors such as agriculture, transport, and footwear. Yet, as observed by Mohure, an Alicante-based human resources consultancy, attitudes are shifting. Manuela Ríos notes that many companies increasingly value experience and reliability, noting that retention problems are a rising concern for firms that rely on skilled talent. These long-serving employees contribute to organizational stability and productivity.
Experts such as Miguel Hernández, a professor of Business Organization at the University of, and Jose Maria Gomez Gras, observe that firms seek candidates with specific skills and experience. They point out that the improved employment outlook for those over 45 aligns with shifts in labor demand and organizational needs, reinforcing the value of seasoned workers in a competitive market.
Trade unions note that the gains in employment among people over 45 reflect labor reform outcomes, bringing stabilization to many workers who previously faced precarious conditions, especially among those with lower qualifications. Some seasonal or daily-contract practices have diminished as the law tightens, according to Jose Maria Ruiz Olmos, a representative of the CC OO in the region. The general secretary of the UGT in the area also highlights cases of underreporting in statistics, arguing that there are numerous instances of irregular employment not captured in official figures. Nonetheless, the positive trend is clear and continues to shape the regional labor market.
Alicante breaks employment records and the unemployment rate falls to the lowest level since 2008
Beyond age considerations, another key aspect of the last year’s employment development is the shift toward permanent contracts. In the period, Alicante added 52,357 workers with indefinite contracts, while temporary employment decreased by 31,244. Notably, about 80% of the total employment gains were in full-time roles; only 12.3% of the increase reflects permanent-permanent positions, with the remainder largely in part-time arrangements.