Spain saw a notable rise in unemployment in January 2026, with the number of jobless increasing by 30.4K, according to data updated on 3 February 2026. The move marks a sharp reversal from December 2025, when unemployment had fallen by 16.3K.
The January figure suggests a cooling in the labour market after year-end improvements, a pattern that often reflects the unwinding of seasonal hiring linked to the holiday period. While the data captures only a single month’s change, the swing from a decline in December to a significant increase in January will likely draw attention from policymakers and investors watching the momentum of Spain’s job market into 2026.
