Marina Alta Jobs Market Rebounds in February

La Marina Alta has begun to regain jobs following the usual slowdown in the labour market that typically occurs in January. According to an analysis by CREAMA through the Observatori Marina Alta, February ended with 932 more people registered with Social Security across the region, while the number of people officially unemployed fell by 86.

The figures confirm the typical pattern for this time of year, when employment begins to pick up ahead of the tourism season. This year’s increase represents the largest rise in Social Security registrations for a February since 2020.

The regional labour market showed particularly strong momentum in terms of employment registrations. The increase of 932 contributors is higher than in the previous two years, when February recorded rises of 808 in 2025 and 832 in 2024. A larger jump was last seen in 2020, when registrations increased by 1,138 during the same month. In percentage terms, employment registrations rose by 1.50 percent, slightly above the 1.34 percent recorded in February last year.

The trend is also positive when viewed over the past year. The region now has 2,050 more contributors than in February 2025, an increase of 3.36 percent. Although this growth exceeds that of the previous two years, it remains below the pace seen immediately after the pandemic. With these figures, Social Security registrations in La Marina Alta reach 62,989, the highest level ever recorded for a February.

Job creation in February was mainly concentrated in sectors linked to tourism and services. Hospitality led the increase with 558 additional contributors, followed by construction and retail, both of which also saw notable rises compared with January. Most of the growth came from salaried employment, although self-employment also increased slightly, with 118 more registered freelancers.

The annual trend in employment remains positive. Over the past 16 months, year-on-year employment has increased continuously, reflecting a stable dynamic in the region’s labour market. February 2026 also marks the fifth consecutive year with a positive annual balance in employment registrations.

The number of people registered as unemployed also declined in February. Overall, unemployment fell by 86 people, a drop of 1.11 percent compared with January. While the figure follows the typical pattern for this month, the decline is more modest than in previous years. Since 2015, unemployment in February has fallen by an average of 186 people, with the exception of 2021. In absolute terms, this year’s decrease is the smallest for a February since 2015, excluding the year affected by the pandemic.

Unemployment continues to affect women more than men in the region. Of the 7,691 people currently unemployed, 4,428 are women and 3,263 are men. Over the past year, unemployment has fallen by 348 women, a decrease of 7.29 percent, and by 322 men, a drop of 8.98 percent.

By age group, unemployment is particularly concentrated among older workers. People aged over 44 account for 63.65 percent of all unemployed, highlighting the weight of joblessness among those with longer work histories.

Compared with February 2025, the number of unemployed people has dropped by 670, a decrease of 8.01 percent. As a result, the total number of people without work stands at 7,691, the lowest figure recorded for a February since 2008, confirming the favorable trend in the region’s labour market.

By sector, unemployment fell most in services, which shed 96 jobseekers and remains the largest sector in Marina Alta’s economy. Smaller declines were also recorded in industry, down by five, and agriculture, down by four. However, unemployment rose slightly in construction, with two additional jobseekers, and among people entering the labour market for the first time, a category that increased by 16.

In terms of hiring, 2,365 contracts were signed in February, 311 more than in January, an increase of 15.14 percent, and 52 more than in February 2025. Of these, 1,539 were permanent contracts, accounting for 65 percent of the total. This share remains far higher than before the labour reform, when stable contracts barely reached 15 percent.

According to data from the Observatori Marina Alta run by CREAMA and PACTE’MA, the region currently has an estimated unemployment rate of 10.88 percent. This is lower than the rate recorded in February 2025, which stood at 12.06 percent, and is also below the average for both the province of Alicante and the Comunidad Valenciana.