title.Unemployment rises as the workforce expands in the Canary Islands

This paradox occurs in a region that continues to receive working‑age migrants from many parts of the world.

The growth rate of new residents in the Canary Islands (driven mainly by European and South American migration rather than natural increase) has turned the current employment figures into a paradox.

• Unemployment rose by 12,500 people in 2025, reaching 150,900 unemployed at the end of the fourth quarter – a 9 % increase over the previous year, according to the Active Population Survey (EPA) published by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
• In the last quarter of the year, the number of unemployed fell by 21,300 across the archipelago, bringing the unemployment rate to 12.63 %.
• This is the highest quarterly unemployment figure since 2023. Since the INE series began, the unemployment rate has risen and fallen the same number of times (12) in the fourth quarter, with the most recent decline being the largest since 2024.

Employment creation

• In the fourth quarter, 35,700 jobs were created in the Canary Islands (+3.5 % versus the previous quarter), pushing total employment to 1,043,600 people – the highest quarterly employment level on record.
• The number of active persons stood at 1,194,500 at the end of the quarter, after an increase of 14,400 (+1.22 %) over the previous three months.
• Over the past year, unemployment grew by 12,500 people (+9 %), while 19,900 jobs were created (+1.9 %). The total active population rose by 32,400 (+2.8 %).

By gender

• Female unemployment fell by 8,800 women (‑9.8 %) in the fourth quarter, whereas male unemployment rose by 12,400 men (+15.1 %).
• Women unemployed: 81,300 (unemployment rate 14.25 %).
• Men unemployed: 69,600 (unemployment rate 11.15 %).

By age

• Youth unemployment (under 25) decreased by 12,100 in the last three months, setting the youth unemployment rate at 19.41 %.

Type of Contracts

According to the INE:

• Permanent‑contract workers increased by 15,900 in the fourth quarter, while temporary contracts rose by 12,100.
• Total salaried workers reached 899,200, of which 744,100 (82.75 %) held permanent contracts and 155,100 (17.25 %) were on temporary contracts.

Employment growth by sector:

• Public sector added 23,800 jobs (+14.29 %), bringing public employment to 190,400.
• Private sector created 11,900 new jobs (+1.41 %), reaching 853,200 positions.

Work‑time distribution:

• Full‑time employment rose by 28,300 (+3.11 %) to 938,700.
• Part‑time employment increased by 7,400 (+7.59 %) to 104,900.

Sector‑specific changes:

• Services lost 22,000 jobs (‑27.57 %).
• Those seeking their first job or out of work for more than a year decreased by 4,600 (‑5.52 %).
• Construction gained 3,300 jobs (+89.19 %).
• Industry added 2,000 jobs (+100 %).
• Agriculture grew by 100 jobs (+3.3 %).

By Autonomous Communities

• The greatest increases in unemployment were recorded in the Balearic Islands (+10,800), Basque Country (+6,600) and Galicia (+4,300).

• The smallest rises (actually declines) occurred in the Valencian Community, Madrid and Andalusia, with reductions of 39,100, 34,100 and 28,100 respectively.

• In terms of job creation, Madrid (+59,300), the Canary Islands (+35,700) and the Valencian Community (+19,500) led the country.

• Conversely, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Castile and León saw the largest drops, losing 57,900, 37,400 and 5,000 jobs respectively.