Marina Alta: July unemployment barely drops, but social security registrations soar
However, unemployment in the Marina Alta during July dropped below 10% for the first time since 2008.
Data from LABORA shows that unemployment fell slightly in the Marina Alta during July, a typically positive month for jobs thanks to the summer season and the strong boost from tourism. Specifically, the number of unemployed dropped by 14 people. However, this decrease is far below the pre-pandemic July average (2014–2019), when unemployment typically fell by 406 people. In fact, it is the smallest July drop on record. Despite reaching the lowest July unemployment rate since 2008, there are still 7,464 people out of work.
Employment
In recent years, July has often seen big changes in the number of Social Security contributors, and this year was no different, indeed the increase was even higher than in previous years. The labour market was very active, with 1,854 more people registered (+2.8%). This growth is especially notable since summer hiring started earlier this year, with a 41% rise in June compared to May. Overall, the total number of contributors reached a new record of 67,237.
Employment growth this July outpaced both 2024, when 1,325 new contributors were added, and 2023, with 1,688. The annual rate of job creation remains around 2–3%, with 1,404 more contributors than in July 2024. This year-to-date figure is consistent with the trend and stronger than the year-on-year growth seen in July 2024 or 2023.
Hiring picked up in July, with 4,606 contracts signed, 517 more than in June, a 12.6% increase. This growth outpaced the province of Alicante and the Comunidad Valenciana, where hiring rose by just 6.15% over the same period. Compared to July 2024, however, there were slightly fewer contracts this year, 653 fewer than last year’s 5,259, a drop of 12.4%.
Unemployment
However, the positive trend in employment has been slowed by unemployment, which fell by just 14 people, compared to drops of 62 in July 2024 and 73 in 2023. LABORA has reported a total of 7,464 unemployed, making this the smallest July decrease since 2004. Even so, it’s the lowest number of unemployed recorded in a July since 2008, when there were 7,104 people out of work.
In July, unemployment fell slightly among women, down by 35, while it rose by 21 among men. Overall, women account for 4,267 of the unemployed (57.17%) and men 3,197 (42.83%), keeping the long-established gender balance. Youth unemployment also saw a significant drop, reflecting the seasonal nature of tourism jobs for younger workers. The number of under-25s registered with LABORA fell by 41 (-13.44%) to just 264, the lowest figure on record and a new historic low for youth unemployment.
Looking at unemployment by economic sector compared to June, Services saw the largest drop in absolute numbers, down 39 people (-0.68%). Industry fell slightly by 4 people (-1.04%), while Agriculture remained unchanged. Among those with no previous work experience, the number of job seekers dropped by 20 (-6.39%). Construction was the only sector to see an increase, with 49 more people registered (+5.06%).
Compared with July 2024, registered unemployment fell across all sectors. Industry saw the largest proportional drop (-15.11%), followed by Agriculture (-10.85%) and Construction (-6.78%). In absolute terms, Services benefited the most, with 349 fewer job seekers (-5.81%).
The Hospitality and Commerce sectors continue to have the most job seekers, with 1,224 and 1,371 people respectively, followed by Construction with 1,018. In the past month, Hospitality saw the largest drop in unemployed workers, down 42 people (-3.32%), while Commerce rose slightly by 14 people (+1.03%). Education saw the biggest increase, up 40 people (+32.52%), due to the end of the school year and the end of temporary teaching contracts. Compared with July 2024, Hospitality had 86 fewer job seekers (-6.56%) and Commerce 28 fewer (-2.00%).
Overall, the unemployment rate in Marina Alta fell by 0.27 points in July, reaching an estimated 9.99%. This is lower than the rates for the province of Alicante (13.17%) and the Comunidad Valenciana (11.75%).
