Canary Islands economic and labor challenges

The Canary Islands are experiencing various economic and labor-related challenges. An analysis by the labor union Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) indicates that over 29,000 unpaid overtime hours are performed weekly in the archipelago, resulting in an estimated weekly cost saving of approximately 600,000 euros for companies. Data from the second quarter of 2025 showed a spike in this trend, with over 47,600 unpaid hours recorded in a single reference week.

Further economic data highlights a widening wage gap between the islands and mainland Spain. While the average monthly wage in the Canary Islands rose 4.1% to €2,016.13 in the second quarter, it remains significantly lower than the Spanish national average of €2,512.

Additionally, the region faces issues with public procurement. Due to logistical difficulties related to insularity, such as high transport costs, there is lower competition for public contracts compared to mainland Spain. A study by the University of La Laguna found the islands average only 2.89 offers per contract, compared to 5.04 in the mainland, leading the regional government to seek intervention from Brussels.