Almeria jobless rise despite regional fall

BUCKING regional and national results, unemployment in Almeria Province increased by 347 people in May, new Labour Ministry figures show.

Almeria and Sevilla were the only provinces of Andalucia where jobless numbers increased last month.

The total number of people on the dole in Almeria Province now stands at 80,347.

The main sectors which saw increases were services and agriculture, while the previously troubled construction industry saw jobless numbers fall by 368 last month.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Murcia Province the number of jobless saw the second biggest drop nationally after the Balearics with 2,288 fewer on the dole.

Nationally, the number of people out of work fell by 30,113 last month for the second month running.

Unemployment declined in 15 autonomous regions, headed by the Balearics (-7,293) and Andalucia (-5,859).

It increased in the Canary Islands, where unemployment rose by 4,476, and Extremadura, where 217 people lost jobs.

May is traditionally good for employment, but last month’s slight reduction was only half of that registered in May 2011 and May 2010.

Unemployment figures were 0.63 per cent lower than April’s and the number covered by Social Security increased by 77,413.

Spain now has 4,714,122 people without jobs, 524,463 (12.5 per cent) more than this time last year.

May’s unemployment figures are proof that Spain’s economy is entering a double dip recession, admitted junior Employment minister, Engracia Hidalgo.

Although neither as brusque nor as intense as the previous dip, its effect on employment is “negative,” Hidalgo said.

Defending the government’s labour reforms introduced more than three months ago, she claimed that the measures are “laying foundations” to check falling employment.

Job losses affected men and women in practically equal measure, with 2,377,116 men unemployed and 2,377,006 women.

Last month 27,651 men found work, bringing a 1.1 per cent reduction in male unemployment.

The number of women out of a job fell by 0.1 per cent, with 2,462 more in jobs than during April.

Sector by sector, the construction industry experienced the greatest reduction with a 1.5 per cent drop and 12,418 more people in jobs.

Unemployment amongst agricultural workers fell by 4.1 per cent with 6,903 more in work.

Service industries followed with 5,895 new jobs and a 0.2 per cent reduction in unemployment.

Industry provided 3,321 more jobs and a 0.6 per cent reduction.

The number of young people who have never worked and have yet to find jobs fell by 1.576, a reduction of 0.38 per cent.