The province of Alicante is poised to be among the main beneficiaries of Spain’s unemployment benefit reform approved by the council this week. It has long been a region with substantial uptake of this aid, especially for those who have exhausted their co-payment or lack sufficient contribution credits. Seasonal work patterns in many areas make this a common situation across several regions.
Latest figures from the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy show that an average of 36,214 Alicante residents receive unemployment assistance each month, a figure that also surpasses the 33,399 monthly total of weekly contributions. By comparison, the Basque region, where these benefits tend to run higher, differs from provinces with distinct seasonalities like Madrid or Barcelona, which rely less on tourism cycles and related fluctuations.
The reform, negotiated among vice presidents, raises the new monthly benefit to 570 euros for the first six months, equating to 95% of the IPREM (Public Revenue Indicator), up from 480 euros. The amount will revert to 540 euros (90% of IPREM) in the following period to encourage job seeking; starting next year it will be 480 euros again (80% of IPREM). For subsidies targeting people aged over 52, the reduced amount remains fixed for the entire potential duration until retirement.
From now on, the pool of possible beneficiaries expands. Young applicants under 45 without family responsibilities, and temporary agricultural workers nationwide, can apply (previously this group was limited to Andalusia and Extremadura). The total number of beneficiaries in Spain is expected to rise from about 800,000 to over one million. In Alicante, the base could grow by roughly 9,000 people.
Another improvement is the introduction of a job-readiness program spanning 180 days, with waiting periods eliminated. The subsidy can be claimed one month after the contribution is exhausted, once the qualification period begins.
Industry and construction reduce unemployment in Alicante in November
Officials highlight that the reform includes a gender-aware design. Women currently represent 56% of all beneficiaries, about 20,284 compared to 15,930 men. The trend shows a large share of recipients are professionals aged over 55, underscoring the difficulty many face when returning to work. A notable portion of those receiving subsidies qualify under special provisions for over-52s.
To illustrate the impact, the average monthly contribution for Alicante recipients stands at 938 euros, while the subsidy itself is 480 euros for the current period.
Evaluation
Trade unions acknowledge progress from the reform but argue that coverage remains insufficient. The general secretary of the UGT in l’Alacantí i la Marina notes that a sizable share of unemployed locals still cannot access aid. Among the 133,146 registered unemployed in October, only 73,521 received some amount, underscoring calls for broader coverage to include all unemployed people. [Source: Ministry data, October report]
The general secretary of CC OO in l’Alacantí-les Marines adds that although improvements are welcome, they are not enough, advocating for an increase beyond 600 euros. He also points out that two out of three beneficiaries do not spend all of the aid, a fact cited to counter claims that higher benefits discourage job searches. The broader aim remains enabling more people to sustain themselves while seeking new employment. [Source: Trade unions statement, November briefing]