The labor market in Málaga saw a substantial boost in March, with a total of 52,961 contracts formalized. This figure represents a 28.96% increase compared to the same period last year, a growth largely attributed to the impact of Easter Week in the region. Data from the State Public Employment Service (SEPE) also shows a 37.23% year-on-year increase in the temporality of contracts.
The services sector was the main driver of this expansion, concentrating 39,288 of the contracts, which accounts for 74% of the provincial total. Within this sector, hospitality, commerce, and tourism activities were the largest demanders of labor. Construction contributed 4,925 contracts, while agriculture added 6,366, also benefiting from the start of the spring campaign. However, it is important to note the predominance of temporary contracts (27,831) over permanent ones (25,130), suggesting a seasonal labor demand linked to events like Easter Week, whose continuity will depend on the evolution of the tourist season.
The increase in hiring contributed to a notable reduction in unemployment in the province of Málaga, which closed March with 108,567 unemployed individuals, 1,863 fewer than in February. Málaga positions itself as one of the provinces with the greatest dynamism in the fight against unemployment, almost doubling the national average's monthly drop (1.69% compared to 0.94%) and significantly exceeding the Spanish year-on-year figure (9.78% compared to 6.22%).
Regionally, Málaga recorded the second largest year-on-year drop in unemployment in Andalucía in relative terms, only surpassed by Huelva. Its 28.96% growth in hiring surpasses other provinces such as Seville (+13.97%), Cádiz (+20.19%), and Granada (+24.54%), highlighting the differential impact of Easter Week on Málaga's economy. In absolute terms, Málaga was the third Spanish province with the largest decrease in unemployment, only behind Cádiz (-2,352) and Seville (-1,939).
By sector of activity, services led the reduction in unemployment with 1,481 fewer unemployed, followed by construction (505 fewer) and industry (75 fewer). However, the number of unemployed without previous employment and in agriculture increased by 91 and 107 people, respectively. Despite these advances, the gender gap persists, with women representing 60.3% of provincial unemployment (65,463 unemployed women compared to 43,104 men).
Finally, March also raised the number of contributors to Social Security in Málaga to 746,248, thanks to the addition of 14,307 affiliates. According to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the province has created 26,940 more jobs than a year ago.
