The capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, has regained the employment levels seen in 2008, currently boasting nearly 148,000 jobs, as outlined in a report on the local labour market prepared by the Socioeconomic Observatory of the Development Society. This document illustrates that unemployment in the municipality has decreased by approximately 12,000 individuals over the past 15 years (2009-2024).
The study, available to DIARIO DE AVISOS, reveals that in 2009, the unemployment figures stood at 29,889 individuals, a number that fell to 22,130 by 2019. However, between 2020 and 2021, there was an increase of 5,503 individuals due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, the data has continued to show improvement, with the number of jobless individuals in the municipality reaching 17,680 by November 2024.
In terms of Social Security affiliates in the capital, there has also been an uptick in hiring, rising from 96,928 employees in June 2013 to 143,780 by November 2024. These figures are reflective of the businesses operating within the municipality relative to the total. In 2010, this percentage was 36.2%, dipped to 35% in 2019, and then slightly increased to 34.9% at the end of 2024.
With respect to the distribution of employed residents in the capital according to their workplace, the report states that in 2015, 70.95% of the workforce was employed within Santa Cruz. This proportion decreased to 66.33% in 2019, before settling at 65.80% of the total by 2024.
In terms of unemployment demographics, particularly age and duration, until last November, the highest percentage of job seekers was found among those over 45 years, accounting for 47.1%, and 37.1% for individuals who had been unemployed for over a year. Additionally, regarding the neighbourhoods with the highest registration of job applicants, as of July this year, Barrio Nuevo (32.9%), Finca La Multa (31.2%), and San Pío (29.5%) exhibited the steepest rates of individuals seeking employment. Others such as Afur (34.6%), Taborno (30.8%), and Valle Tahodio (30.4%) followed closely behind.
Record Employment Levels
The mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez (CC), recalls, “when I took office in 2011, I encountered a city council that was practically bankrupt and unemployment figures approaching 30,000 individuals. We have gradually managed to rectify both situations, allowing us to enjoy a sound financial standing and unemployment levels reminiscent of 2008.”
Bermúdez highlighted that “the ongoing reduction of unemployment levels in the city has been consistent, with only a minor interruption during the pandemic, which caused a slight increase. Over the past decade, we have lowered the unemployment rate from over 30% to the current 17%. This decline has coincided with an increase in contracts signed in the capital, where one in every three jobs on the Island is situated in Santa Cruz.” He noted that this achievement has led to record-high employment levels in the municipality, now totalling 143,780 jobs.
The trends observed in the unemployment rate across the Island and within the Canary Islands as a whole mirror those of Santa Cruz, although the situation in the capital municipality is notably more pronounced.
