Alicante breaks employment records with nearly 38,000 jobs in the third quarter
October brought mixed signals to the labor market, echoing the national pattern. Construction activity picked up again, and full-time work saw a notable return. Schools reported the creation of up to 3,443 jobs, while the total number of registered unemployed in employment offices rose by roughly 1,294 due to end-of-month redundancies in trade and, especially, hospitality sectors.
In parallel, the province followed the national trend with unemployment rising by 36,936, even as the average number of contributors to Social Security increased by 92,862. In Alicante, the October average of contributors stood at 733,546, an increase of 3,443 from September and 20,238 from a year earlier. The Education sector accounted for a substantial rise, adding 6,138 members as training centers completed their staffing for the new term, reflecting the return of full-time teaching, extracurriculars, and related activities to classrooms. By contrast, the hospitality sector saw declines as the tourism season waned. The construction and manufacturing industries also contributed to higher employment, driven in part by renewed projects and a stock-up push ahead of ongoing economic uncertainty and higher interest rates. These shifts align with the broader recovery in activity noted by many employers. [Source: Ministry of Inclusion and Social Security]
In the hospitality and trade sectors, employment fell modestly as expected after the summer peak. Hospitality shed 2,113 jobs, and trade lost 835 roles, with most losses occurring after the peak season on the coast and in seasonal businesses that closed or reduced operations in several municipalities. This softer month reflects the typical post-tourist-season ebb for the region, even as other sectors recover. [Source: Local Labor Statistics]
On the other front, the October report shows that Alicante set a record by adding nearly 38,000 positions across the three quarters. Even with this improvement in job creation, unemployment rose by 1,294 people, bringing the province’s total to 133,146 unemployed residents. However, this is 12,267 fewer than a year ago. There were declines in unemployment within agriculture, industry, and construction, while services and first-time job seekers saw gains of 1,610 and 59 respectively. The gap between registered unemployment and active membership was influenced by timing factors, such as the last-day-of-month registration, the Pilar holiday period, and the day of week when the month ends. Analysts emphasize that average employment figures remain a better indicator of ongoing trends. [Source: Regional Economic Office]
Looking at the composition of new affiliations to Social Security in October, women represented a clear majority. Of the 3,443 affiliates added, 2,714 were women and 729 were men, underscoring the feminization in the education sector. The permanent contract remains the primary form of job creation, accounting for more than half of new establishments in the year to date, with the permanent employment rate reaching 54.82%. This suggests that labor reforms continue to shape how employers hire. [Source: Social Security Administration]
Meanwhile, the health of the employment protection system shows uneven progress. Fewer than half of September’s registered unemployed received any form of governmental support. Of 131,852 unemployed reported, 72,467 received benefits; 31,698 received the contributory benefit, 34,990 received a subsidy after exhausting other aid, and 5,779 benefited from Active Income schemes. The data reflect the patchwork of support programs that accompany a fluctuating labor market. [Source: Ministry of Inclusion and Social Security]
Overall, the third quarter delivered robust job gains, especially in education, services, and manufacturing. Yet unemployment remains stubborn in the short term, with seasonal dynamics continuing to influence monthly figures. The ongoing shift toward permanent contracts and the steady hiring in services signal a healthier trajectory for Alicante, even as the regional economy navigates global uncertainties and domestic policy changes. [Citation: Regional Economic Review]