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The Malaga region gets back to work.
Credit: R.Classesn, Shutterstock.
Andalusia’s labour market has reached historic milestones, with a record-breaking level of employment, and a reduction in unemployment to under 15 percent for the first since 2008. These are the data of the Spanish National Institute of Statistics.
70,000 jobs have been added in the region, increasing the number of people employed to 3,54 million. In parallel, unemployment dropped by 50.600 and now stands at 618.600. It is the lowest level in 17-years.
The services sector has been the main driver of this unprecedented growth, especially the hospitality sector. It added 15,715 new positions in May, accounting for 73% percent of the increase in employment. Malaga and Seville have led that increment, with significant contributions to job creation, while Cádiz also performed well. However, some challenges remain in provinces like Almería, Huelva, and Granada, where seasonal agricultural and educational sectors have seen job losses.
Tourism and technology industries have boosted the region’s economy. Andalusia is expecting 37 million visitors in 2025. Substantial investments are being made to improve infrastructure. 60 of the 260 hotels that will be built by 2028 will be five-star. Andalusia is gaining in popularity as a tourist destination around the world and an economic hub.
Andalusia’s employment growth stalls by train
The Costa del Sol continues to grow despite these successes, but it is still hampered by a serious bottleneck in the form of transportation. This long-delayed project to build a coastal train, which would improve connectivity and employment on the Malaga coast, has yet to be completed. It is causing some jobs to be lost and is forcing hospitality companies to cut back their opening hours because staff are unable to travel effectively. The AP-7, Spain’s most expensive road, is still not toll-free. This hinders access and economic integration. The missing piece in unlocking the full potential of the region is to solve these transport issues.
