Unemployment continues in Spain

The number of registered unemployed in Spain has increased by 1.6 per cent which means a further 37,542 are claiming benefit compared to last month.

The economy is growing at its slowest rate in over ten years as the spell of unparalleled house building has slumped as a result of the credit crisis and the US recession.

As mortgage costs have risen, the sales of new homes haven fallen by 25 percent and in the same period unemployment has increased to 9.6 percent from 8.6 percent.

Unemployment rose in April mainly due to unemployment in the construction sector 16,647 unemployed accounting whilst the service industry accounted for 17,455.

At the end of April the total number of unemployed men was 996,715 and the total number of unemployed woman was 1,341,802, which is a 30% increase for men and 6.7 % for women respectively when compared to 2007.

Unemployment among those under the age of 25 year had risen by 6,852 which is 2.5% more compared to March.

Unemployment is not widespread cross the country as in April 5 regions did have reduced unemployment figures with Baleares had 3,951 less registered unemployed, the Basque region having 833 less and Navarra 618 less.

Areas hit hardest by unemployment were Andalucía with 8,928, and Catalonia with 7,747 more registered unemployed.

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