The number of unemployed people registered at the Public Service of State Employment Office (SEPE) of Melilla, at the end of August, stands at 7,463. These are 68 people less than the previous month (-0.9%) and 1,272 unemployed less than a year ago (-14.56%).

The Delegate of the Government in Melilla, Sabrina Moh, who appeared before the media this afternoon to give an account of these figures, has highlighted that these data confirm the consolidation of the recovery of the labor market in the city.

“For the seventh consecutive month we have to congratulate ourselves that unemployment has fallen in Melilla. Today there are 2,865 fewer unemployed than in June 2018, when the PP ruled. And this is the result of coordinated work, a real analysis of the needs of our city and the implementation of useful policies to respond to the needs of the people of Melilla,” he said.

The head of the Delegation has highlighted the improvement of female and youth employment, two of the most punished groups. “We have fallen from the 5,000 unemployed women and youth unemployment has also fallen. These are positive data that encourage us to continue working,” he said.

In her speech to the media, the Delegate stressed the importance of labour reform and the commitment to Vocational Training. “We have gone from 8% indefinite hiring to 40%, which means more stable and quality employment. Faced with the policies of the PP, which generated precariousness and cuts, this Government continues to move towards a fairer labor market with more opportunities,” he said.

For his part, the Provincial Director of the SEPE, Jorge Vera, has stressed the relevance of the data both locally and nationally. “This is the first time since 2007 that unemployment has fallen in September, demonstrating the positive impact of labour reform. In Melilla it falls in all sectors, with a total of 1,678 contracts signed, of which about 40% are indefinite, following the trail of the whole country.”

Vera also recalled that the average amount received per beneficiary of unemployment benefits in Melilla stands at 949.3 euros per month, “which reinforces the commitment of the Government of Spain to protect those who need it most.”

Local data

The Provincial Director of the SEPE has disaggregated the data of the fall in unemployment by sector, so the Services sector is the one in which the number of applicants has been reduced the most with 43 people less, followed by the Construction sector where the reduction has been 16 people. In No Previous Job, unemployment fell by 7 people, while in Agriculture it remains the same, and in Industry it fell by 2.

Regarding the data of affiliation to Social Security, Vera has highlighted that, once again, the data of the historical series is improved, reaching the figure of 25,727, which implies an increase of 236 affiliates (0.93%) this month and of 1,377 affiliates (5.66%) compared to last year. Specifically, in the General System there are 21,348 members, 4,301 members in the Autonomous System; and 79 members in the Sea System.

As for the contracts, the head of the SEPE in Melilla has reported that a total of 1,678 have been signed during the past month, of which 667 have been indefinite, which means about 40% of them. Vera recalled that, before the labor reform approved by this government, the percentage of indefinite contracts accounted for 8% of the total.

In terms of registered unemployment, according to sex, women with 4,943 unemployed accounted for 66.23% of the total, compared to the 2,520 unemployed men in our city, which accounted for 33.77%. And, as far as minors under the age of 25 are concerned, there are 856 unemployed in Melilla.

With regard to unemployment benefits, the average amount received per beneficiary is EUR 949.3 per month.

National data

The head of the Provincial Directorate of the SEPE has also echoed the national data, according to which at the end of September, unemployment fell by 4,846 people compared to the previous month, being the first time that unemployment fell in this month since 2007 if we exempt the period of the pandemic. The total number of unemployed is 2,421,665, the lowest figure in a month of September since 2007.

At the national level, unemployment falls in all economic sectors and only slightly increases among those who have not had previous employment. It also falls in both sexes, with a more pronounced fall among women in absolute terms: 2,827 women less unemployed. Unemployment among children under the age of 25 marks its minimum in the historical series in September

In year-on-year terms, unemployment fell by 153,620 people (-6%), well above, for example, economic growth rates. It is also reduced in seasonally adjusted terms by 29,689 people. The total number of people registered is 2,421,665, the lowest figure in a month of September since 2007.

By economic sectors compared to August, the registered unemployment fell in Construction by 4,670 people (-2.59%), Services 3,067 people (-0.17%), Industry 1,422 people (-0.75%) and in Agriculture 1,166 (-1.52%).

In terms of unemployment by sex and age, female unemployment fell by 2,827 women (-0.19%) and stood at a total of 1,468,904, the lowest level since 2008. Previously, it had only descended in the month of September on three occasions throughout the historical series.