Unemployment decreased in Andalusia in March by 1,252 people compared to the previous month, a 0.19% decrease, bringing the number of unemployed in the region to 643,222 and placing it below the 650,000 mark for the fifth consecutive month. This decline was mainly driven by the service sector, which saw 2,928 fewer unemployed individuals (-0.66%), despite not yet accounting for the majority of hires that will be generated by the upcoming Easter holiday in April. Additionally, there was a decrease of 77 unemployed individuals in the construction sector (-0.14%) and 45 fewer unemployed individuals in the industry sector (-0.13%). On the other hand, unemployment increased by 2.21% (1,659 people) among those without previous work experience and by 0.38% (139 people) in agriculture and fishing.
In annual terms, Andalusia saw 56,311 fewer unemployed individuals in the past month compared to March 2024 (-8.05%), continuing a trend of almost four consecutive years of uninterrupted declines that began in May 2021. The region contributed to almost 39% of the overall unemployment reduction in Spain (146,865 individuals) over the last year, surpassing the national average by more than 2.6 points (5.39%).
In terms of gender, women accounted for nearly 97% of the decrease in unemployment in March (1,212 fewer women compared to 40 fewer men). When considering age, the largest decline was seen in individuals over 45 years old, both in absolute terms (1,651) and relative terms, with a 0.46% decrease. Additionally, the group aged 25 to 44 also saw a decrease of 971 unemployed individuals (-0.41%), while unemployment increased by 2.49% among those under 25 years old (1,370 more unemployed individuals in the last month).
Una empleada de un cáterin porta una bandeja de canapés.
Andalusia was the fifth autonomous community with the largest decrease in unemployment in March, surpassed only by the Valencian Community, Catalonia, Galicia, and Castilla y León. Additionally, Málaga and Seville ranked among the top six provinces with the best results in all of Spain. Málaga had the best performance in Andalusia, with a 0.63% decrease in unemployment (764 fewer unemployed individuals), while Seville closed the month with a 0.47% decrease (734 fewer unemployed individuals). Huelva (616 fewer individuals, a 1.85% decrease) and Granada (84 fewer unemployed individuals, a 0.12% decrease) also saw reductions in unemployment. Conversely, unemployment increased by 1.32% in Jaén (495 individuals), by 0.33% in Córdoba (183 individuals), by 0.36% in Almería (170 individuals), and by 0.08% in Cádiz (98 individuals).
Seville also experienced the largest decrease in unemployment in absolute terms in the last year (from March 2024 to March 2025) across all of Spain, with 12,725 fewer unemployed individuals, surpassing regions like Catalonia (which saw a decrease of 12,624 unemployed individuals).
Compared to March 2024, unemployment decreased in all provinces: Jaén (-11.57%); Huelva (-10.56%); Córdoba (-8.77%); Málaga (-8.25%); Almería (-8.09%); Seville (-7.56%); Cádiz (-7.38%); and Granada (-6.19%).
Social Security
In March, Andalusia saw an increase of 26,459 affiliations (0.8% growth). This rise brought the total number of affiliates to 3,467,822, marking the second-best historical record, only surpassed by December of the previous year (3,470,447). Andalusia was the third autonomous community with the highest growth in Social Security contributors during March, accounting for 16% of the new jobs created. In annual terms, the number of affiliates increased by 68,505 since March 2024, a figure surpassed only by the Community of Madrid (105,902) and Catalonia (75,732), indicating that Andalusia contributed 15% of the new contributors registered throughout Spain over the last twelve months (455,679).
Self-Employed Workers
The number of self-employed individuals reached 584,829 people in Andalusia, setting a new historical record in March with 2,401 self-employed workers, a 0.4% increase and nearly 20% of the growth seen in Spain (12,102). With this data, Andalusia solidifies its position as the autonomous community with the highest number of self-employed workers, a position held continuously since May 2021. In annual terms, the number increased by 8,415 individuals since March 2024, a 1.5% rise.
Throughout Spain, the number of self-employed workers has grown by 36,297 individuals in the last twelve months. Therefore, Andalusia contributed to almost 25% of the new registrations in this Special Regime during that period.