Spain’s June 2026 unemployment drops to historic lows as job registrations hit record

National data for June 2026 show Spain’s unemployment fell by 28,739 people, bringing the total to 2,291,982, the lowest figure in 18 years and a 6.2 % rate for the euro‑area. The job market added 128,533 new affiliates, pushing total coverage above 22.4 million – the highest ever recorded – with foreign‑born workers accounting for the bulk of the increase (around 70,000).

Regional reports confirm the downward trend: Galicia recorded the second‑largest absolute fall (3,587 jobs), while Burgos and Vigo posted the steepest percentage drops, reaching their lowest unemployment levels in two decades. In the Balearics, Castellón saw the strongest relative decline in the Valencian Community, whereas Lleida was the only Catalan area where unemployment rose (1.71 %). Overall, the services sector drove most of the job creation, boosted by the summer tourism season, but temporary and part‑time contracts remain prevalent, raising concerns about job quality.

The labour market’s momentum is reflected in a 65‑month streak of affiliate growth and a 5.1 % rise in contracts for the first half of the year, the strongest increase since 2017. While the government highlights the record numbers, unions point to the temporary nature of many new positions.