The Alicante region stands as a major economic engine for tourism, a force reflected not only in visitor figures but in job creation. Last year, most new Social Security registrations concentrated in the l’Alacantí, Vega Baja, Marina Baixa, and Marina Alta areas. In these coastal regions, the service sector dominates, accounting for nearly 19,000 of the roughly 22,000 registrations recorded. Unions highlight tourism’s strong employment potential, while also pushing for better working conditions and policies that address imbalances with inland areas.
Valencian statistical authorities affiliated with the Generalitat reported that Alicante closed 2023 with 22,059 new Social Security members, bringing the province total to 724,217. The standout statistic is that 18,975 of these new members were linked to coastal zones where tourism holds greater importance and seasonal demand drives labor market dynamics.
In particular, l’Alacantí emerged as the hotspot for new registrations, with 11,502 new members contributing to a regional total of 259,433 workers. Vega Baja followed with 3,218 new members, lifting its regional tally to 107,193, while Marina Baixa registered 2,466 new members, bringing its total to 64,810. Marina Alta reported 1,789 new enrollments, reaching 61,025 overall.
In other coastal zones, Baix Vinalopó also showed notable activity, with Elche serving as the principal economic driver. The comarca recorded 1,634 new affiliations, achieving an overall total of 103,658 workers.
Beyond the coastal hubs, the inland dynamics are more subdued. The Alcoià region maintained a steady pace with 868 new enrollments, keeping the balance at 38,698. Alto Vinalopó registered 634 new members, for a total of 18,044. The Comtat saw a slight decline of 57, ending the year at 10,050, while the Middle Vinalopó experienced the largest drop, down by 596 workers, to finish at 46,905.
Gender-disaggregated data show that women accounted for the majority of new registrations in the province, totaling 12,886 compared with 9,173 for men. This progress narrowed the gap only slightly, given that there are currently 339,982 women registered with the Social Security, still far short of the 384,235 men.
What do union leaders say about these statistics? Paco García, secretary general of CC OO in l’Alacantí – Les Marines, emphasizes tourism’s strong potential to create jobs but stresses the need to improve labor conditions, particularly wages, to reduce the gap between earnings and housing costs. He also calls for measures to boost inland employment based on the idea that Spain’s depopulated areas are present in this province too.
In similar terms, Yolanda Díaz, secretary general of UGT in the same region, points to the coastal upgrade in services delivered by hotels and hospitality venues amid favorable weather as a key factor driving the rise in registrations. She agrees, however, that policies are needed to strengthen inland job opportunities and economic resilience across the province.