Reports of rising employment and falling unemployment in Alicante drive Easter optimism

The Easter period brings welcome news for the Alicante job market. The tourism rebound during Holy Week lifted employment in the province to a new high. March saw notable job growth, according to government data released on Tuesday, marking a strong milestone in the historical index.

Over the last month, 10,346 new jobs were created, the strongest March figure in recent years. This surpassed the 2022 total of 9,532 and exceeded pre-pandemic levels, such as 2019 with 8,392, and 2018 with 9,856 in the same period.

With this rise, the number of Alicante Social Security affiliates reached 710,555, meaning 24,354 people were employed compared to a year earlier. If the trend continues, this summer could push the province’s employment record higher, potentially reaching around 719,904 workers.

An office of the public employment service in Alicante. david revenge

As expected, the increase in membership was mirrored in unemployment figures. The number of people registered as unemployed fell by 1,826, bringing the total to 139,989 across Labora offices. The reduction in unemployment is smaller than the job growth rate because many job seekers were not previously registered or have only recently entered the labor market.

Employment gains momentum in February, allowing the state to once again exceed 700,000 members

by sectors

The key driver of the March improvement was the reactivation of the hospitality sector, which accounted for more than half of the new jobs. Restaurants, bars, hotels, and related businesses added 5,546 more workers than in the previous month, signaling strong prospects for Holy Week occupancy. The hospitality sector now employs 81,140 people in Alicante.

Recovery extended across most sectors. Industry posted a slight dip with 24 fewer affiliates, while trade added 683 new workers to reach 136,577, continuing to be the largest source of employment in the province.

First year of labor reform leaves almost 272,000 new unidentified workers in Alicante

Companies increased their workforce by 649 people, bringing the total to 57,213. Education employed 577 people, bringing Alicante residents into work totals of 44,553. Administrative activities and business services added 556 jobs, and health added 485.

Most of the new roles were for others, while self-employment rose by 759 from the previous month, reaching 138,917. Unlike the national trend where self-employment numbers have dipped, Alicante shows year-on-year growth with 1,384 more members.

stable employment

Labor reform effects continued to be felt as seasonal tourism activity lifted employment. Of the 42,785 contracts signed in March, 26,271 were permanent, a 38% rise from the previous year, reflecting greater job stability.

Overall, contract volume fell 19% compared to a year ago as stable employment reduced turnover and the reliance on temporary contracts that often span multiple periods.

Waiter on a terrace in Benidorm. david revenge

Another positive development shows employment rising more for women than men, helping close the gender gap in the labor market. Social Security data indicate women accounted for 5,506 of the new jobs, while men added 4,840, yet men still represent a majority of the unemployed in the province.

Protection for the unemployed remained a priority. By the end of February, 82,201 people in the province received some form of benefit from Sepe, representing 58% of the total. Of these, 37,517 received contributions, 38,325 were on unemployment benefits, and 6,159 benefited from Active Participation Income.

Ratings

Eco-friendly employment trends prompted positive assessments from employers and unions, though there are debates on the next steps to maintain momentum. Some say employment stabilization policies show solid data, but there is concern about seasonality, wages, and broader economic health. Local officials urge employers to negotiate wage increases to preserve purchasing power while continuing reforms to bolster the job market.

Attention turned to public employment services and active employment policies, with calls for better unemployment benefit coverage, reform of layoffs, and cost controls on labor burdens. Regional employers emphasize the need for more timely support for businesses facing rising costs, warning that tax and social contributions increases could curb hiring. The secretary-general of the CEV notes that while governments collect records, excessive barriers harm competitiveness and growth.

A poster seeking staff on a business premise. david revenge

Finally, the regional president highlighted the drop in unemployment in the Valencian Community during March, with 3,089 fewer jobseekers and a total of 340,298 unemployed. Social Security reported an average of 19,224 affiliates in March, bringing the total employed in the region to 2,068,58. The president linked these gains to sustained employment growth since 2015, saying never before had such a March total been reached. The regional employment minister noted that unemployment declines span all sectors, with the service industry driving the Easter hiring surge.