Spain's registered unemployment increased by 23,587 in September 2026 compared with the previous month, exceeding market expectations of a 17,600 rise. Even so, the total number of jobseekers stood at 2.379 million, the lowest figure for any September since 2007.
The overall increase in unemployment was driven by higher joblessness in services (+6,707), agriculture (+601), and among first-time job seekers (+17,966). The rise in newly registered jobseekers is largely linked to the ongoing extraordinary regularization process, which is enabling previously undocumented workers already residing in Spain to enroll with public employment services for the first time.
Separately, Social Security data showed that net employment grew by 108,832 in September, bringing the total number of formally employed workers to 22.48 million.
