Unemployment in the Canary Islands Continues to Decline
Unemployment in the Canary Islands dropped again in June, marking a positive shift in the job market. The archipelago saw 142,409 registered unemployed individuals, a decrease of 2,189 from May, according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy. This decline represents a reduction of 1.51% over the month and an overall decrease of 8,295, or 5.50%, compared to June 2025.
The first half of 2026 ends on a high note for the regional labour market, with falling unemployment rates both month-on-month and year-on-year.
Tenerife Leads Job Loss Reductions
While unemployment decreased across all islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife made the most significant contribution, ending June with 68,859 unemployed—a drop of 1,291 or 1.84% from May. Compared to June 2025, this figure is down by 3,092, or 4.30%.
In Las Palmas, the number of unemployed stood at 73,550, down by 898, a 1.21% decrease. Year-on-year, this province saw a larger reduction of 5,203, or 6.61%.
Gender Disparity in Unemployment
Women continue to make up the majority of the unemployed, with 82,136 registered compared to 60,273 men. Among those job seekers, 7,266 are under 25 years old.
Job Losses Across Economic Sectors
Every sector reported a decline in unemployment in June, with the services sector seeing the largest drop. This is particularly relevant in the Canary Islands due to tourism’s crucial role. The services sector recorded 1,826 fewer unemployed, totalling 112,757. In construction, unemployment fell by 172 to 11,460; in agriculture, it decreased by 86 to 2,243; and industry saw 66 fewer unemployed, amounting to 5,224.
Surge in Hiring in June
The decline in unemployment coincided with a surge in hiring, with 63,947 contracts signed in June—an increase of 23.15% from May and 4.45% from June last year. Permanent contracts increased to 27,757, up by 21.70% compared to May and 14.62% from the previous June.
Temporary contracts also saw a rise, with 36,190 signed, a monthly increase of 24.29%, though down by 2.21% from June 2025.
Total of Over 217,000 Jobseekers
At the end of June, there were 217,041 jobseekers in the Canary Islands, including 41,067 already employed but seeking better opportunities. Of these, 153,195 were classified as unemployed, including the officially registered unemployed and seasonal agricultural workers.
Expenditure on Unemployment Benefits
By the end of May, 28,294 unemployment benefit claims were filed, of which 26,450 were approved, with an average processing time of 0.44 days. Expenditure on benefits reached €101.2 million.
Overall, June’s data show a positive trend in the labour market, with falling unemployment, increased hiring, and a rise in permanent contracts, although challenges remain, notably the high number of unemployed women and reliance on the services sector.
