Spain's Registered Unemployment Falls to Lowest Since 2008 While Remaining Above 2.29 Million

Spain's registered unemployment fell by 28,739 people in June from May, reaching 2,291,982, the lowest level since January 2008, Euronews reported citing Ministry of Labour data. Services accounted for nearly all of the monthly decline with 28,498 fewer unemployed, followed by industry with 2,829, construction with 1,326 and agriculture with 384.

The number of people with no previous employment rose by 4,298.

Youth unemployment dropped by 5,155 in the month to 159,800, down 6,907 from a year earlier. Female youth unemployment fell by 4,090 over the year while male youth unemployment fell by 2,817.4 million for the first time since August 2008, standing at 1.39 million.

Male unemployment stood at 903,673. Over the month female unemployment declined by almost 16,000 and male unemployment by almost 13,000. Over the year the drops were 72,000 for women and 41,000 for men.

Unemployed foreign nationals numbered 342,086, down 4,208 in the month and 10,068 over the year. Social Security contributors rose by an average of 128,533 in June to a record 22.47 million. The seasonally adjusted figure exceeded 22.2 million.

The system gained 600,595 contributors and shed 113,981 unemployed over the past 12 months. Wholesale and retail trade added 39,325 new registrations, hospitality added 37,696 and administrative and support service activities added 29,316. Over the year health and social services added 78,373 contributors and construction added 66,280.

The number of self-employed reached 3.47 million after rising by 12,000 in the month and 50,800 over the year. Foreign worker registrations reached 3. Foreign workers now account for more than 15 percent of all contributors.