In September, the capital of Tenerife reached 140,330 contributors to Social Security, according to data from the Canarian Institute of Statistics (Istac), which is based on the location of company registrations. This figure is recorded for the first time in the municipality and has seen a substantial rise since July, following a year marked by fluctuations.
The contributors from Santa Cruz thus account for 34.8 percent of the total 403,435 across the island of Tenerife, making it the municipality with the highest capacity to attract economic activities and, consequently, employment.
Of the total number of workers affiliated with Social Security, 13,355 are self-employed, equating to 9.6 percent, or nearly one in ten. This is also an unprecedented figure for the municipality, at least since 2010, the year up to which Istac’s statistical records extend. The trend in Social Security affiliations has not been favourable across all sectors. The year-on-year comparison highlights a persistent decline in agriculture and livestock within the municipality, where the sector now has 1,765 contributors, down from 1,965 in September 2023 and from 2,480 in the same month of 2022.
More notable are the figures for commerce, which has seen a reduction of 1,625 contributors compared to the previous year, now standing at 21,140 members, a decrease from 22,675 in 2023. This category encompasses both wholesale and retail trade, as well as vehicle repairs. These reductions are the most significant, as other activities are experiencing growth.
This is evident in sectors related to health and social services, which are becoming increasingly significant in the municipality, now emerging as the primary source of employment, surpassing commerce, with a total of 23,670 affiliates in September, compared to 22,935 the previous year. Other sectors experiencing growth include construction, which has risen from 5,670 to 6,235 registered workers; the hospitality sector, from 7,105 to 7,490; the manufacturing industry, incrementing from 2,845 to 3,000; and public administration, which has increased from 12,405 to 13,090 contributors.
