Spain recorded a drop of over 46,000 unemployed people in June. Credit: Florian Plag / Creative Commons
The labour market in the Costa Blanca region is showing signs of continued recovery. In June 2025, the number of people registered as unemployed fell to 7,478 — a figure not seen since July 2008, according to the latest figures released by the Observatori Marina Alta based on data from Labora, the Valencian employment service.
The drop in unemployment is significant both on a monthly and annual basis. Compared to May, there were 245 fewer people out of work — a reduction of 3.2%. Year-on-year, unemployment has fallen by 622 people, or 7.7% compared to June 2024.
Analysts from the Observatori highlight that such seasonal improvements are typical at the beginning of summer, coinciding with the launch of the high tourist season. However, they also stress that “this year’s figure sets a new low in the historical series,” marking a notable milestone in the region’s post-crisis recovery.
Hiring surges, but most new jobs are temporary
Alongside the fall in unemployment, hiring figures have seen a sharp increase. A total of 4,089 employment contracts were signed in June, marking a month-on-month rise of 40.9% and an 8.8% increase compared to the same month last year.
This rise has been driven largely by temporary contracts, which shot up by 86% in the last month alone. Nevertheless, the region continues to show strength in permanent employment: six out of every ten new contracts signed in June were permanent, confirming a structural trend observed since labour reform efforts in Spain began to prioritise job stability.
Gender gap remains
Despite the overall positive outlook, the report notes that unemployment continues to disproportionately affect women. As of June, 57.5% of the unemployed in Marina Alta were women — a clear indicator that gender inequality remains a persistent issue in the region’s labour market.
The positive trend seen in Marina Alta is mirrored, to some extent, across the rest of the Comunidad Valenciana and Spain as a whole. In the Valencian region, unemployment fell by 10,627 people in June, bringing the total number of jobseekers to just under 335,000 — the lowest figure since 2008. Hiring also increased by more than 16%, with a similar split between temporary and permanent contracts.
Spain recorded a drop of over 46,000 unemployed people in June, leaving the total at 2.56 million, according to figures from the Ministry of Labour. It marks the lowest June figure since 2008 and reflects the continued strength of the services sector during the summer months. Across the country, the number of permanent contracts continues to surpass temporary ones, thanks in part to labour reforms implemented in 2022.
Still, challenges remain — particularly regarding gender equality and the reliance on seasonal work. But overall, the employment data for June 2025 paints a cautiously optimistic picture for the labour market in Marina Alta, the Comunidad Valenciana, and Spain at large.
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