Young people under 25 have practically disappeared from the working population during the crisis, according to the latest Labour Observatory report from the Foundation for Applied Economic Studies (Fedea). In fact, the presence of young employed people is “almost zero”, especially in certain regions, such as Aragón, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Galicia or the Basque Country, where only three or four per 100 employees are under 25. According to Fedea, all the regions in Spain have seen a fall in the presence of young people in the labour market by half due to the crisis, which has had a “huge impact” on this age group.

Over the last year, some regions, including Andalucía, Canary Islands, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid or Murcia, have seen an increase in the relative presence of young people under 25 in the labour market while others, such as Castilla y Leon, Castilla La Mancha, Asturias, Aragón and the Basque Country are still experiencing a decline. According to this report, the industrial sector has lost weight regarding the composition of total employment, except in Navarra, although, over the last year there has been a slight recovery in the sector. La Rioja, followed closely by Navarra, are the most industrialised regions in terms of employment.

Part-time employment is on the increase

Fedea’s study highlights the fact that part-time employment has increased “significantly” during the crisis, to the point that 16 out of every 100 people were employed under these working conditions towards the end of last year. This employment mode has had a higher incidence in regions such as the Basque Country, Navarra, Valencia and Andalucía, where the proportion exceeds 18%, while, in other regions, such as Madrid, it does not reach 15%.

Fedea’s Labour Observatory also highlights the fact that the southern half of Spain has a “huge” proportion of unemployed adults, as from 14 to 18 adults of every 100 are unemployed in regions, such as Andalucía, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia, twice the percentage as in others, such as the Basque Country.

In spite of all this, last year all the regions presented a more favourable situation which indicates, according to Fedea, the slight improvement in the Spanish labour market. The report also finds that the incidence of long-term unemployment has soared during the crisis period, although with significant differences between regions. Long-term unemployment in Aragón and the Balearic Islands has fallen significantly, while in other regions, such as Cantabria and the Basque Country, it has increased.

Regarding job creation, Fedea highlights that while Andalucía or Valencia display rates above 10%, others, such as Asturias, Castilla y León, Madrid or Catalonia hardly reach 6%. By sectors, industry and agriculture display the most favourable figures regarding the net creation of jobs, in contrast with the situation in the service and building sectors, where net employment is being destroyed, but at a lower rate than one year ago.