Employed persons in industry
| Total | Extractive industries, energy, water and waste | Food, textiles, wood, paper and graphic arts | Chemical and rubber | Metallurgy | Machinery, electrical and transport material | Percentage of the employed persons (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1/2026 | 686.8 (b) Break in time series | 46.9 (b) Break in time series | 206.8 (b) Break in time series | 108.1 (b) Break in time series | 84.0 (b) Break in time series | 241.1 (b) Break in time series | 17.8 (b) Break in time series |
| Q4/2025 | 663.9 | 50.8 | 188.7 | 113.2 | 89.5 | 221.7 | 17.0 |
| Q3/2025 | 679.3 | 52.9 | 189.3 | 113.6 | 91.3 | 232.1 | 17.2 |
| Q2/2025 | 666.1 | 39.2 | 178.0 | 117.9 | 85.5 | 245.5 | 16.9 |
| Q1/2025 | 629.3 | 45.0 | 184.1 | 96.0 | 76.2 | 228.0 | 16.3 |
| Q4/2024 | 642.9 | 47.6 | 182.6 | 100.0 | 79.0 | 233.7 | 16.7 |
| Q3/2024 | 635.2 | 40.3 | 179.9 | 125.3 | 69.0 | 220.7 | 16.5 |
| Q2/2024 | 636.1 | 44.5 | 189.0 | 126.9 | 59.8 | 216.0 | 16.7 |
| Q1/2024 | 633.1 | 42.7 | 181.0 | 129.4 | 66.0 | 214.0 | 16.7 |
| Q4/2023 | 624.8 | 48.5 | 185.1 | 121.8 | 60.1 | 209.3 | 16.4 |
| Q3/2023 | 647.8 | 33.9 | 209.2 | 123.4 | 76.5 | 204.8 | 17.0 |
| Q2/2023 | 610.3 | 32.4 | 186.8 | 120.4 | 75.0 | 195.5 | 16.3 |
| Q1/2023 | 628.4 | 40.2 | 206.6 | 117.6 | 73.3 | 190.7 | 17.5 |
| Q4/2022 | 627.1 | 33.2 | 204.8 | 129.6 | 69.6 | 189.9 | 17.4 |
| Q3/2022 | 615.4 | 33.5 | 188.3 | 127.5 | 71.5 | 194.6 | 16.9 |
| Q2/2022 | 636.0 | 39.8 | 196.0 | 138.4 | 80.0 | 181.6 | 17.6 |
| Q1/2022 | 590.2 | 42.7 | 184.6 | 127.5 | 67.2 | 168.2 | 16.8 |
| Q4/2021 | 601.6 | 36.9 | 190.5 | 116.3 | 67.1 | 190.8 | 16.9 |
| Q3/2021 | 599.6 | 41.5 | 185.3 | 108.0 | 73.3 | 191.6 | 17.0 |
| Q2/2021 | 571.8 | 41.4 | 174.0 | 90.7 | 78.1 | 187.5 | 16.6 |
| Q1/2021 | 575.6 | 48.7 | 174.0 | 90.6 | 71.7 | 190.6 | 16.9 |
| Q4/2020 | 580.0 | 46.1 | 181.3 | 98.6 | 70.6 | 183.3 | 17.4 |
| Q3/2020 | 583.3 | 48.0 | 203.3 | 96.5 | 62.3 | 173.2 | 17.5 |
| Q2/2020 | 582.5 | 44.1 | 205.9 | 88.6 | 67.2 | 176.6 | 18.0 |
| Q1/2020 | 604.2 | 43.7 | 208.0 | 106.4 | 63.3 | 182.8 | 17.5 |
| Q4/2019 | 610.5 | 46.3 | 216.0 | 103.5 | 58.5 | 186.1 | 17.6 |
| Q3/2019 | 619.7 | 43.9 | 221.5 | 110.4 | 56.7 | 187.2 | 17.9 |
| Q2/2019 | 633.9 | 51.1 | 211.3 | 110.2 | 58.4 | 202.9 | 18.5 |
| Q1/2019 | 620.9 | 49.6 | 185.4 | 118.5 | 64.9 | 202.5 | 18.3 |
| Q4/2018 | 619.9 | 53.6 | 184.0 | 107.9 | 70.7 | 203.7 | 18.3 |
| Q3/2018 | 634.9 | 58.9 | 175.6 | 112.6 | 76.7 | 211.1 | 18.7 |
| Q2/2018 | 631.5 | 55.9 | 182.8 | 115.6 | 81.9 | 195.4 | 18.8 |
| Q1/2018 | 619.9 | 54.4 | 184.5 | 113.3 | 74.2 | 193.5 | 18.8 |
| Q4/2017 | 622.9 | 49.8 | 193.0 | 109.4 | 75.9 | 194.8 | 18.8 |
| Q3/2017 | 597.3 | 41.5 | 186.7 | 107.5 | 77.9 | 183.7 | 18.0 |
| Q2/2017 | 577.8 | 35.4 | 187.5 | 102.2 | 68.0 | 184.6 | 17.7 |
| Q1/2017 | 564.1 | 29.4 | 183.3 | 100.2 | 64.4 | 186.8 | 17.6 |
| Q4/2016 | 581.2 | 34.2 | 190.4 | 100.3 | 67.8 | 188.5 | 18.1 |
| Q3/2016 | 577.4 | 36.0 | 193.0 | 92.8 | 69.8 | 185.8 | 17.9 |
| Q2/2016 | 590.5 | 38.7 | 194.0 | 103.1 | 72.6 | 182.2 | 18.6 |
| Q1/2016 | 585.1 | 39.2 | 190.0 | 105.0 | 69.5 | 181.4 | 18.7 |
| Q4/2015 | 589.7 | 43.6 | 185.8 | 100.5 | 74.8 | 185.0 | 19.0 |
| Q3/2015 | 590.3 | 50.0 | 192.4 | 92.3 | 73.7 | 181.8 | 19.0 |
| Q2/2015 | 584.8 | 45.7 | 189.8 | 96.9 | 72.0 | 180.4 | 19.0 |
| Q1/2015 | 563.6 | 41.5 | 183.7 | 95.3 | 72.9 | 170.1 | 18.6 |
| Q4/2014 | 568.4 | 36.5 | 187.8 | 91.9 | 73.5 | 178.7 | 18.6 |
| Q3/2014 | 577.7 | 45.8 | 178.7 | 96.6 | 65.2 | 191.4 | 18.8 |
| Q2/2014 | 561.5 | 45.6 | 177.5 | 90.5 | 65.7 | 182.2 | 18.5 |
| Q1/2014 | 525.8 | 40.9 | 154.8 | 93.0 | 59.1 | 178.0 | 17.8 |
| Q4/2013 | 536.4 | 44.3 | 156.6 | 90.4 | 62.3 | 182.9 | 17.9 |
| Q3/2013 | 548.5 | 48.3 | 163.9 | 92.0 | 61.4 | 182.8 | 18.2 |
| Q2/2013 | 550.5 | 45.8 | 162.7 | 93.2 | 69.4 | 179.4 | 18.7 |
| Q1/2013 | 553.5 | 44.8 | 176.1 | 89.1 | 69.9 | 173.6 | 18.9 |
| Q4/2012 | 547.9 | 38.7 | 170.9 | 87.3 | 74.0 | 177.0 | 18.5 |
| Q3/2012 | 572.5 | 43.6 | 176.1 | 83.5 | 80.9 | 188.4 | 18.9 |
| Q2/2012 | 563.2 | 42.1 | 178.8 | 78.2 | 83.1 | 180.9 | 18.4 |
| Q1/2012 | 571.5 | 37.4 | 181.9 | 76.8 | 90.1 | 185.3 | 18.6 |
| Q4/2011 | 586.1 | 39.5 | 176.1 | 86.6 | 94.8 | 189.1 | 18.7 |
| Q3/2011 | 590.4 | 39.3 | 177.6 | 95.3 | 88.2 | 190.0 | 18.4 |
| Q2/2011 | 596.8 | 43.0 | 190.6 | 87.4 | 82.1 | 193.6 | 18.3 |
| Q1/2011 | 588.1 | 41.5 | 187.4 | 89.2 | 82.3 | 187.7 | 18.3 |
| Q4/2010 | 626.3 | 46.0 | 187.5 | 99.8 | 88.8 | 204.2 | 19.3 |
| Q3/2010 | 623.1 | 40.2 | 180.0 | 101.2 | 86.1 | 215.7 | 19.0 |
| Q2/2010 | 617.7 | 33.6 | 173.6 | 107.8 | 89.2 | 213.6 | 19.0 |
| Q1/2010 | 620.4 | 33.2 | 179.8 | 106.2 | 86.7 | 214.6 | 19.3 |
| Q4/2009 | 629.9 | 35.7 | 173.2 | 103.5 | 92.9 | 224.6 | 19.4 |
| Q3/2009 | 624.1 | 38.0 | 167.9 | 95.1 | 92.2 | 230.9 | 18.9 |
| Q2/2009 | 639.1 | 42.3 | 176.1 | 89.4 | 94.4 | 237.0 | 19.4 |
| Q1/2009 | 678.8 | 44.0 | 183.6 | 100.9 | 106.6 | 243.8 | 20.4 |
| Q4/2008 | 719.7 | 46.9 | 194.5 | 103.7 | 127.0 | 247.7 | 20.6 |
| Q3/2008 | 762.5 | 49.3 | 211.0 | 107.9 | 140.2 | 254.0 | 21.3 |
| Q2/2008 | 783.9 | 46.5 | 222.5 | 122.9 | 141.4 | 250.6 | 21.6 |
| Q1/2008 | 803.5 (b) Break in time series | 41.8 (b) Break in time series | 225.9 (b) Break in time series | 125.0 (b) Break in time series | 144.3 (b) Break in time series | 266.5 (b) Break in time series | 22.3 (b) Break in time series |
| Units: Milers de persones. | |||||||
| Source: Idescat, based on the INE's Economically Active Population Survey. | |||||||
| Notes: | |||||||
| In April 2024, Idescat reviewed the results of the Economically Active Population Survey for the years 2021-2023 with the new population base derived from the 2021 Population and Housing Census. | |||||||
| Until 2007, economic activity was classified according to CCAE-93 Rev.1. From 2008 until 2025, it was classified according to CCAE-2009. In 2026, the Economically Active Population Survey (EPA) collects economic activity according to the dual classification CCAE-2009 and CCAE-2025. This dual classification enables, on the one hand, the tabulation of population values according to the new CCAE-2025 classification and, on the other, the calculation of year-over-year rates of change using CCAE-2009. | |||||||
| Between 14 March and 21 June 2020, it is in force the Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 March, which declares the state of alarm for the management of the health crisis situation caused by Covid-19. | |||||||
| (b) Break in time series. | |||||||
| Total | Extractive industries, energy, water and waste | Food, textiles, wood, paper and graphic arts | Chemical and rubber | Metallurgy | Machinery, electrical and transport material | Percentage of the employed persons (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1/2026 | 3,064.9 (b) Break in time series | 303.8 (b) Break in time series | 968.4 (b) Break in time series | 352.7 (b) Break in time series | 485.5 (b) Break in time series | 954.7 (b) Break in time series | 13.7 (b) Break in time series |
| Q4/2025 | 3,031.8 | 311.1 | 947.8 | 341.3 | 505.0 | 926.7 | 13.5 |
| Q3/2025 | 3,069.6 | 326.7 | 934.4 | 353.1 | 492.3 | 963.2 | 13.7 |
| Q2/2025 | 3,005.5 | 296.2 | 913.7 | 353.3 | 495.2 | 947.1 | 13.5 |
| Q1/2025 | 2,915.2 | 295.9 | 919.9 | 335.0 | 451.8 | 912.6 | 13.4 |
| Q4/2024 | 2,919.6 | 295.4 | 904.2 | 329.0 | 462.2 | 928.9 | 13.4 |
| Q3/2024 | 2,912.6 | 292.7 | 897.7 | 381.2 | 447.5 | 893.5 | 13.3 |
| Q2/2024 | 2,889.2 | 286.7 | 892.5 | 377.9 | 419.0 | 913.1 | 13.3 |
| Q1/2024 | 2,825.8 | 271.6 | 867.2 | 388.1 | 410.0 | 888.9 | 13.3 |
| Q4/2023 | 2,864.3 | 286.9 | 875.1 | 364.8 | 424.4 | 913.1 | 13.4 |
| Q3/2023 | 2,847.3 | 260.8 | 907.0 | 362.0 | 448.4 | 869.1 | 13.3 |
| Q2/2023 | 2,741.1 | 244.2 | 871.4 | 353.7 | 431.1 | 840.6 | 12.9 |
| Q1/2023 | 2,805.4 | 256.5 | 901.1 | 343.2 | 447.6 | 857.0 | 13.6 |
| Q4/2022 | 2,808.6 | 255.6 | 913.8 | 355.8 | 445.0 | 838.4 | 13.6 |
| Q3/2022 | 2,817.1 | 260.4 | 895.8 | 354.2 | 466.1 | 840.5 | 13.6 |
| Q2/2022 | 2,784.4 | 272.4 | 895.1 | 348.7 | 462.3 | 806.0 | 13.5 |
| Q1/2022 | 2,706.3 | 272.8 | 855.9 | 327.4 | 446.3 | 804.0 | 13.4 |
| Q4/2021 | 2,779.0 | 274.9 | 869.9 | 342.7 | 458.8 | 832.6 | 13.7 |
| Q3/2021 | 2,741.6 | 281.7 | 845.6 | 321.4 | 458.6 | 834.3 | 13.6 |
| Q2/2021 | 2,678.7 | 271.1 | 831.5 | 306.6 | 457.8 | 811.8 | 13.6 |
| Q1/2021 | 2,643.0 | 277.4 | 818.9 | 312.4 | 426.3 | 808.0 | 13.7 |
| Q4/2020 | 2,693.6 | 266.9 | 841.6 | 338.3 | 426.1 | 820.8 | 13.9 |
| Q3/2020 | 2,687.7 | 276.4 | 845.9 | 342.7 | 415.3 | 807.5 | 14.0 |
| Q2/2020 | 2,642.3 | 259.9 | 860.6 | 316.7 | 411.6 | 793.4 | 14.2 |
| Q1/2020 | 2,769.3 | 264.8 | 904.1 | 336.9 | 442.0 | 821.5 | 14.1 |
| Q4/2019 | 2,763.7 | 268.4 | 907.3 | 323.3 | 435.3 | 829.4 | 13.8 |
| Q3/2019 | 2,815.8 | 269.1 | 920.1 | 337.1 | 451.5 | 837.9 | 14.2 |
| Q2/2019 | 2,764.5 | 272.8 | 892.6 | 337.6 | 428.0 | 833.6 | 14.0 |
| Q1/2019 | 2,708.5 | 262.5 | 859.1 | 338.5 | 419.5 | 828.9 | 13.9 |
| Q4/2018 | 2,708.3 | 265.8 | 864.9 | 324.9 | 418.1 | 834.5 | 13.8 |
| Q3/2018 | 2,725.7 | 276.2 | 832.0 | 339.6 | 435.3 | 842.6 | 14.0 |
| Q2/2018 | 2,722.8 | 258.7 | 861.1 | 340.7 | 425.0 | 837.3 | 14.1 |
| Q1/2018 | 2,676.4 | 255.7 | 870.1 | 327.1 | 402.5 | 821.1 | 14.2 |
| Q4/2017 | 2,711.3 | 253.0 | 896.2 | 318.6 | 405.8 | 837.8 | 14.3 |
| Q3/2017 | 2,670.7 | 254.9 | 869.1 | 325.1 | 408.9 | 812.9 | 14.0 |
| Q2/2017 | 2,636.6 | 258.4 | 866.2 | 314.4 | 398.2 | 799.5 | 14.0 |
| Q1/2017 | 2,570.9 | 249.6 | 845.0 | 284.7 | 390.0 | 801.4 | 13.9 |
| Q4/2016 | 2,579.1 | 247.2 | 847.1 | 287.8 | 402.3 | 794.7 | 13.9 |
| Q3/2016 | 2,531.3 | 234.5 | 834.1 | 281.3 | 405.1 | 776.3 | 13.7 |
| Q2/2016 | 2,497.1 | 232.6 | 813.4 | 284.5 | 406.0 | 760.7 | 13.6 |
| Q1/2016 | 2,481.4 | 237.7 | 785.7 | 295.8 | 400.6 | 761.4 | 13.8 |
| Q4/2015 | 2,463.4 | 239.9 | 788.5 | 289.5 | 401.0 | 744.8 | 13.6 |
| Q3/2015 | 2,518.9 | 264.3 | 812.6 | 302.5 | 396.0 | 743.6 | 14.0 |
| Q2/2015 | 2,505.9 | 266.3 | 808.5 | 303.3 | 392.4 | 735.6 | 14.0 |
| Q1/2015 | 2,441.1 | 258.7 | 791.6 | 292.8 | 389.8 | 707.9 | 14.0 |
| Q4/2014 | 2,438.8 | 244.6 | 814.9 | 284.0 | 387.3 | 707.8 | 13.9 |
| Q3/2014 | 2,427.1 | 240.8 | 806.2 | 282.1 | 368.4 | 729.7 | 13.9 |
| Q2/2014 | 2,355.3 | 237.6 | 782.9 | 266.9 | 362.1 | 705.6 | 13.6 |
| Q1/2014 | 2,298.6 | 231.1 | 746.4 | 267.0 | 356.8 | 697.2 | 13.6 |
| Q4/2013 | 2,340.8 | 234.9 | 750.7 | 257.8 | 378.9 | 718.4 | 13.7 |
| Q3/2013 | 2,345.1 | 232.7 | 738.0 | 273.2 | 386.7 | 714.1 | 13.6 |
| Q2/2013 | 2,357.7 | 236.6 | 748.0 | 273.7 | 383.6 | 715.7 | 13.7 |
| Q1/2013 | 2,378.5 | 243.0 | 771.4 | 273.0 | 387.5 | 703.5 | 14.0 |
| Q4/2012 | 2,438.8 | 253.3 | 778.4 | 282.8 | 403.7 | 720.7 | 14.1 |
| Q3/2012 | 2,496.7 | 263.7 | 781.8 | 266.0 | 423.3 | 761.9 | 14.1 |
| Q2/2012 | 2,489.6 | 262.0 | 793.9 | 266.3 | 420.1 | 747.3 | 14.0 |
| Q1/2012 | 2,509.7 | 260.4 | 808.6 | 264.7 | 444.8 | 731.3 | 14.1 |
| Q4/2011 | 2,584.7 | 253.4 | 811.4 | 271.4 | 477.6 | 770.9 | 14.2 |
| Q3/2011 | 2,632.4 | 263.8 | 810.7 | 284.3 | 481.6 | 792.0 | 14.2 |
| Q2/2011 | 2,622.9 | 257.9 | 825.0 | 267.8 | 470.5 | 801.5 | 14.1 |
| Q1/2011 | 2,578.8 | 245.0 | 829.4 | 278.2 | 467.0 | 759.4 | 14.0 |
| Q4/2010 | 2,661.9 | 253.4 | 857.9 | 289.0 | 481.6 | 780.0 | 14.3 |
| Q3/2010 | 2,645.3 | 239.4 | 828.1 | 290.0 | 483.3 | 804.4 | 14.1 |
| Q2/2010 | 2,656.7 | 244.5 | 826.7 | 302.6 | 481.8 | 801.2 | 14.2 |
| Q1/2010 | 2,637.9 | 242.7 | 817.2 | 298.5 | 478.1 | 801.4 | 14.1 |
| Q4/2009 | 2,718.6 | 254.7 | 821.8 | 301.3 | 501.9 | 838.7 | 14.4 |
| Q3/2009 | 2,752.0 | 252.9 | 847.5 | 293.2 | 515.3 | 842.9 | 14.4 |
| Q2/2009 | 2,829.1 | 262.6 | 886.5 | 286.8 | 534.5 | 858.9 | 14.8 |
| Q1/2009 | 2,930.6 | 262.6 | 897.1 | 302.8 | 591.5 | 876.7 | 15.2 |
| Q4/2008 | 3,078.5 | 256.9 | 928.1 | 314.4 | 656.9 | 922.1 | 15.4 |
| Q3/2008 | 3,231.1 | 253.4 | 990.7 | 324.0 | 705.9 | 957.1 | 15.7 |
| Q2/2008 | 3,284.3 | 248.3 | 1,032.5 | 329.3 | 714.0 | 960.1 | 15.9 |
| Q1/2008 | 3,352.8 (b) Break in time series | 242.6 (b) Break in time series | 1,034.6 (b) Break in time series | 344.6 (b) Break in time series | 730.7 (b) Break in time series | 1,000.3 (b) Break in time series | 16.3 (b) Break in time series |
| Units: Milers de persones. | |||||||
| Source: INE. Economically Active Population Survey. | |||||||
| Notes: | |||||||
| In April 2024, Idescat reviewed the results of the Economically Active Population Survey for the years 2021-2023 with the new population base derived from the 2021 Population and Housing Census. | |||||||
| Until 2007, economic activity was classified according to CCAE-93 Rev.1. From 2008 until 2025, it was classified according to CCAE-2009. In 2026, the Economically Active Population Survey (EPA) collects economic activity according to the dual classification CCAE-2009 and CCAE-2025. This dual classification enables, on the one hand, the tabulation of population values according to the new CCAE-2025 classification and, on the other, the calculation of year-over-year rates of change using CCAE-2009. | |||||||
| Between 14 March and 21 June 2020, it is in force the Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 March, which declares the state of alarm for the management of the health crisis situation caused by Covid-19. | |||||||
| (b) Break in time series. | |||||||
Last update: April 28, 2026. Next update: July 28, 2026 
Methodological note
The employed persons is people aged 16 or over who are working either as employees or as self-employed.
The economic activity sector of employed people is determined by the main activity of the company in which they work and not by their specific job.
From the 1st quarter of 2008 onwards, economic activities have been classified using the new Catalan Classification of Economic Activities 2009 (CCEA-2009) and the sector division is as follows:
| Labels | CCAE-2009 |
|---|---|
| Extractive industries, energy, water and waste | 05–09, 35–39 |
| Food, textiles, wood, paper and graphic arts | 10–18 |
| Chemical and rubber | 19–22 |
| Metallurgy | 23–25 |
| Machinery, electrical and transport material | 26–33 |
The Economically Active Population Survey (APS) is the main source for finding out about the labour market. It is sample research carried out by the INE using the methodology of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Statistical Office of the European Commission (Eurostat). The survey is taken every quarter and its main purpose is to investigate the relationship with people's economic activity.
The data for the 2002–2013 period was revised in May 2014 since the new reference population figures from the Population and Housing Census 2011 and the introduction of new criteria in the calibration of the expansion factors have made it necessary to recalculate the Economically Active Population Survey series for the period in question.
For further information about these statistics, you may check the methodology.