Economically Active Population Survey. Q1/2026

The employed population in Catalonia grew by 0.4% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 3,867,000 people. In absolute terms, the year-over-year increase was 16,900 people. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, the number of employed people decreased by 46,300 (−1.2%).

By sector, in year-over-year terms, it grew in all economic sectors except for the services. The growth was led by industry (55,100 people; 8.8%), followed by construction (39,300 people; 16.5%) and agriculture (12,100 people; 26.7%). The population employed in services decreased by 89,600 people (−3.1%). Compared with the previous quarter, the employed population rose in industry (20,500 people; 3.1%), construction (17,000 people; 6.5%) and agriculture (7,900 people; 15.9%). Conversely, the employed population fell in services (−91,600 people; −3.1%). It should be noted that the Economically Active Population Surve (EPA), in 2026, collects economic activity according to the dual classification CCAE-2009 and CCAE-2025. Comparisons in year- over-year terms and regarding to the previous quarter and the rates of change have been calculated using the CCAE-2009.

By sex, in year-over-year terms, the employment grew among women (0.9%) and remained stable among men. By age, the highest year-over-year increase in employment compared to the previous year ocurred in the population aged 16 to 24 (8.8%), followed by the population aged 55 and over (7.7%). The population aged 25 to 54 decreased by 2.4%. Compared to the previous quarter, the employed population aged 55 and over increased by 0.3%, but decreased in the 16 to 24 and 25 to 54 age groups (−1.1% and −1.6%, respectively).

By type of working day, in year-over-year terms, the full-time employment increased (0.9%) and the part-time employment decreased (−2.6%). Among the salaried employees, by type of contract, indefinite contracts grew by 0.6%, while temporary contracts decreased by 2.2%.

The unemployment rate stood at 10.12%, with a total of 435,600 unemployed people (59,200 more than the previous year, representing an increase of 15.7%). By sex, unemployment among men grew by 25.0% year over year (with an employment rate of 9.52%), and that among women grew by 7.9% (with an unemployment rate of 10.79%). By age, the most significant increase occurred among the unemployed population aged 25 to 54 (20.0%), followed by the population aged 55 and over (14.9%). Last, the number of unemployed population aged 16 to 24 increased by 1.4% year over year.

Regarding specific sectors, the population employed in the cultural sector stood at 190,700 people (4.9% of total employment) decreasing by 1.6% year over year and by 8.2% quarter over quarter. By sex, the cultural sector employed 112,700 men and 77,900 women.

In the tourism sector, the employed population stood at 470,600 people, accounting for 12.2% of total employment. This figure represents a decrease of 5.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 and a decrease of 9.0% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. By sex, this sector employed 261,700 men and 208,800 women.

The ICT sector employed 166,200 people in the first quarter of 2026 (0.3% less than a year earlier and 13.3% less than the previous quarter), accounting for 4.3% of total employment.