In late first quarter of 2022, Spain recorded a robust rise in tourism-related employment. Data from Turespaña, derived from the Active Population Survey, show an annual increase of 16.8 percent, equating to 349,730 more workers in tourism compared to the year before. Tourism activities accounted for 40 percent of total employment in the country for the year, representing 12.1 percent of Spain’s overall economy. In the Valencian Community alone, 251,301 people were employed in tourism during the same period, marking a 25.2 percent rise that outpaced the national average.
The tourism sector’s unemployment rate stood at 11.8 percent in the first quarter of 2022, a notable improvement given a 2.4 percentage point drop from the same period in 2019. Government representatives framed these figures as a strong signal of recovery for the industry and the broader labor market. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism described the data as very positive, highlighting the rapid rebound of tourism jobs and noting that the labor market remains one of the sector’s best indicators. The minister emphasized that this recovery was expected to solidify during the summer season and should bring many destinations back to pre-pandemic levels, driven by Spain’s appeal to international travelers and its high vaccination coverage and strong tourism offerings. The government’s ongoing work aims to restore pre-pandemic visitor levels and improve job quality and profitability within the industry.
Occupation increased by 16.8 percent last year,
with gains seen across both employed workers and the self-employed, up 18.8 percent and 9.5 percent respectively. All major tourism activities reported growth except passenger transport, which declined by 7.1 percent. Growth in the hospitality sector surged, rising 21.7 percent thanks to broad improvements in services and meals, and especially accommodations, which jumped 39.4 percent. Travel agencies also posted a strong increase, reaching 23.7 percent.
Occupation by autonomous communities
Across Spain, employment in tourism rose in every autonomous community. Relative gains appeared most pronounced in Cantabria, up 40.7 percent, and Castilla y León, up 38.6 percent. The six most visited communities—Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community—produced the largest numbers of tourism jobs, collectively accounting for a large share of sector employment, approximately 73.8 percent of total tourism employment in the country.
Unemployed by branch of activity
The number of unemployed individuals tied to tourism activities reached 323,944 in the first quarter. Joblessness across accommodation services, food and beverage services, and other tourism-related activities declined versus 2019, whereas passenger transport remained steady.