# Spanish labor costs and wage trends > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/spanish-labor-costs-and-wage-trends > Updated: 2026-09-17T09:52:19.000Z. Sources: 105. Developments: 2. Recent data regarding the Spanish economy highlights mixed trends in labor costs and wages. In the Cantabria region, average monthly labor costs per worker fell by 2.5% in the second quarter compared to the previous year, though this represented a 4.7% increase from the first quarter of the same year. The average wage in Cantabria reached 2,283 euros, which is 7.5% higher year-on-year but remains below the national average of 2,512 euros. Nationally, the average monthly salary in Spain reached 2,055 euros in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the prior year. However, when adjusted for an average inflation rate of 2.7%, the estimated real gain in purchasing power is only 0.7%. Sectoral analysis shows the construction industry experienced the highest wage growth at 4.4%, while the hospitality sector remains the lowest-paid with an average monthly salary of 1,331 euros. Cumulative data from 2019 to 2025 suggests a total loss of purchasing power of 1.1% as price increases have outpaced wage growth. By the second quarter of 2026, labor costs in Spain reached a 26-year high. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), the average monthly labor cost per worker rose 4% year-on-year to 3,388.15 euros, marking 22 consecutive quarters of increases. Gross average salaries also climbed 4% to 2,512.68 euros. Regional variations persist; in Castilla-La Mancha, average labor costs rose 3.6% to 3,002.68 euros, while in Galicia, costs increased by 2.8% to 2,963.05 euros. Cantabria continued to see a year-on-year decrease in average labor costs, settling at 3,110 euros. ## Claims - The unemployment rate reached 7.9% in the second quarter of 2026. (corroborated by 26 sources) - Labor informality reached 45% of employed workers. (corroborated by 23 sources) - The employment rate was 45%. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The labor activity rate reached 48.9%. (corroborated by 19 sources) - Unemployment in the Pampeana region was 9.7%. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Self-employed workers within the informal sector increased from 34.3% to 37.3%. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Unemployment in Gran Buenos Aires was 8.2%. (corroborated by 5 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-17: Argentina economy contracts as unemployment hits 7.9% Argentina's GDP fell 0.6% in Q2 2026, while unemployment rose to 7.9%, the highest since 2021. Labor informality also climbed to 45%, driven by a rise in self-employment and declining formal jobs. 103 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spain-labor-costs-and-average-wages-show-mixed-trends ### 2026-09-14: Spain car insurance premiums rise up to 10% in 2026 Car insurance premiums in Spain have risen between 4.16% and 10% in 2026, though September has seen a slight moderation in costs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spain-car-insurance-premiums-rise-up-to-10-in-2026 --- Cite as: Spanish labor costs and wage trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/spanish-labor-costs-and-wage-trends