Spain Shatters 10% Barrier: Unemployment Hits Lowest Level Since 2008 Financial Crisis

Spain’s labor market has reached a historic milestone, with the unemployment rate dropping to 9.93% in the final quarter of 2025—the first time it has dipped below 10% in 17 years. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), the surge was primarily driven by the services sector, which added over 87,000 jobs, bringing the total number of employed citizens to a record 22.46 million.

While the industrial sector saw a slight decline, youth unemployment also showed improvement, falling to 23%. This robust performance marks Spain’s strongest labor recovery since the pre-crisis era of early 2008, signaling a resilient economic rebound led by tourism and domestic services amidst broader European economic shifts.