Economically Active Population Survey. Q2/2026

The employed population in Catalonia grew by 1.3% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 3,997,800 people. In absolute terms, the year-over-year increase was 53,100 people. Compared to the first quarter of 2026, the number of employed people increased by 130,800 (3.4%).

By sector, in year-over-year terms, it grew in all economic activity sectors except for the services. The growth was led by industry (41,800 people; 6.3%), followed by construction (41,300 people; 17.0%) and agriculture (2,600 people; 5.0%). The population employed in services decreased by 32,600 people (−1.1%). Compared with the previous quarter, the employed population grew in services (106,100 people; 3.7%), industry (21,700 people; 3.2%), and construction (6,200 people; 2.2%). Conversely, the employed population fell in agriculture (−3,200 people; −5.5%). It should be noted that the Economically Active Population Survey, in 2026, collects economic activity according to the dual classification CCAE-2009 and CCAE-2025. The year-over-year comparisons as well as the rates of change have been calculated using the CCAE-2009.

By sex, in year-over-year terms, the employment grew by 1.5% among women and 1.2% among men. By age, the highest year-over-year increase in employment compared to the previous year occurred in the population aged 55 and over (4.1%), followed by the 25 to 54 age group (0.9%). The population group aged 16 to 24 fell by 1.9%. Compared to the previous quarter, the number of employed persons aged 16 to 24 rose by 6.6%, those aged 25 to 54 increased by 3.5%, and those aged 55 and over increased by 1.7%.

By type of working day, in year-over-year terms, both the full-time employment (0.7%) and the part-time employment (5.3%) increased. Among the salaried employees, by type of contract, indefinite contracts grew by 2.2% and temporary contracts did so by 7.4%.

The unemployment rate stood at 7.90%, with a total of 343,000 unemployed people (5,300 less than the previous year, representing a decrease of 1.5%). By sex, unemployment among men grew by 8.7% year over year (with an unemployment rate of 7.75%), and that among women fell by 10.6% (with an unemployment rate of 8.07%). By age, the most significant increase occurred among the unemployed population aged 55 and over (23.8%). The unemployed population aged 16 to 24 decreased by 15.1% and those aged 25 to 54 by 2.7%.

Regarding specific sectors, the population employed in the cultural sector stood at 166,200 people (4.2% of total employment) decreasing by 20.0% year over year and by 12.8% quarter over quarter. By sex, the cultural sector employed 100,500 men and 65,700 women.

In the tourism sector, the employed population stood at 524,900 people, accounting for 13.1% of total employment. This figure represents a increase of 11.5% compared to the first quarter of 2026 and a decrease of 3.8% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. By sex, this sector employed 298,700 men and 226,100 women.

The ICT sector employed 166,200 people in the second 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.