Spain’s labour market reached a historic milestone in March, with the number of Social Security contributors surpassing 22 million for the first time, according to official data released on Monday. The seasonally adjusted number of contributors stood at 22,010,532 after 80,274 jobs were added during the month. In average terms, employment rose by 211,510 people, marking the largest increase ever recorded for March.
The growth was driven largely by increased activity during the Easter period and strong performance in the services sector, which traditionally sees higher demand during seasonal peaks.
In unadjusted figures, total enrolment also hit a record high, with more than 21.8 million people registered in the Social Security system.
Government data showed that the number of contributors has increased by nearly 3.4 million since 2018. Female employment reached record levels, approaching 10.4 million, alongside continued growth in permanent contracts and higher-skilled sectors such as technology and scientific services.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledged the milestone in a social media post before later highlighting the contribution of workers across sectors, describing the achievement as a collective national effort.
Meanwhile, unemployment continued to decline. The number of jobless people fell by 0.9% in March to 2.42 million, marking the lowest level for the month since 2008. Over the past year, unemployment has decreased by more than 160,000.
Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz said unemployment among women and young people has reached historic lows, attributing the improvement to labour market reforms introduced in recent years.
The latest figures reflect sustained momentum in Spain’s labour market, supported by services growth and structural employment reforms.
