End of several reinforcement contracts affected accommodation and trade during this period. The summer season led Alicante to lose 2,997 jobs in the past month. A decline that is usually normal in these months, apart from 2020 and 2021 when the pandemic reshaped the labor market.
In truth, the occupancy data show that the drop was sharper than in previous Septembers when Social Security recorded more than 5,000 fewer members and fell below the 2019 figure, which saw 3,628 jobs eliminated.
Despite the month’s decline, the average number of affiliates in Alicante stands at 730,102, which indicates that last year 24,340 jobs were created in the province.
In line with expectations, the largest declines occurred in the hospitality sector with 3,699 fewer workers than in August; trade lost 3,692 workers. Similarly, employment in recreational activities tied to tourism fell notably by 1,352 people.
On the flip side, there was a notable rise in the average payroll for education as courses began, with 3,219 more employees hired to staff training centers. In the same vein, industry staffing increased by 1,403 people after the summer break, and the construction sector added 607 workers to meet demand.
It is worth noting that the mid-summer drop in employment in Alicante is traditional, as many tourism-related businesses reduce activity in August while holidays are taken. The market typically resumes momentum after summer ends, as September data show.
A surprising contrast appeared in last month’s data: although the number of affiliates fell, registered unemployment declined by 98 to reach 131,852. The decrease in unemployment in industry (-264), construction (-372), and agriculture (-93) offset the rise in services (+434) and the group looking for first-time work (+197).
It should also be noted that not everyone who finds a job is registered with the employment offices, and not every expired contract is registered. Additionally, monthly membership data represent averages across the month, while registered unemployment reflects the figure for the last day.
Compared with the year before, the number of unemployed people registered in the provincial employment offices decreased by 10,608.
is hiring
Regarding job quality, recent labor reforms are seen as beneficial, with most hires moving from temporary to permanent contracts. Consequently, 54.7% of those who found work last month secured a permanent contract, a proportion that also appears in the year-to-date totals. Overall, the total number of registered contracts reached 40,270, nearly 20% below the previous year.
Why have sick leaves increased rapidly in Alicante?
Gender distribution shows that 1,178 more people were registered among women, bringing the total to 342,083. In contrast, employment losses were concentrated among men, with a drop to 388,019 and 4,174 fewer members.
In terms of unemployment protection, August included various forms of support: some recipients received contribution-based assistance, others benefited from subsidies, and a portion accessed active income support to cope with unemployment.