Spain tourism employment rises 2.3% to reach 3 million workers

Tourism employment in Spain grew by 2.3% in August compared to the same month in the previous year, according to data from Turespaña. The sector reached a total of three million employed individuals, accounting for approximately 13.8% of the country's total affiliated workers.

Growth was driven primarily by the hospitality sector, which saw an increase of 37,584 affiliates, including 13,929 in accommodation services and 23,655 in food and beverage services. While travel agencies reported a decrease of 1,972 workers, reports suggest this figure is influenced by changes in the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE) rather than a real decline in employment.

Employment increased across almost all autonomous communities, with the exceptions of Extremadura, Cantabria, and Castilla y León. Salaried workers, who represent 83.1% of the sector, saw a 2.5% year-on-year increase, while self-employed workers in the tourism sector grew by 1.4%.