Unemployment has decreased across the 31 municipalities of Tenerife at the conclusion of the fourth and final quarter of 2024. This reduction is bolstered by the support of the Cabildo, which has allocated 10 million Euros to municipalities to encourage job creation. The corresponding Active Population Statistics (EPA) for the period from September to December of last year indicate a considerable decline in unemployment. The Realejos, El Sauzal, and Güímar have registered the most notable decreases, with declines exceeding three points within two years. Conversely, municipalities such as La Victoria de Acentejo, Los Silos, and Icod de los Vinos report the highest unemployment rates. The rankings show Realejos (-3.6), El Sauzal (-3.2), and Güímar (-3.1) making the most progress since the last quarter of 2022.
Collaboration
The president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, underlines that collaboration with the municipalities has been essential in reducing unemployment across all areas and in enhancing the local economic landscape. Dávila states, “Last year we allocated 10 million euros for this purpose.” She also highlights the importance of the “strong and close cooperation we maintain with the island’s municipalities to achieve these results.” She adds that this overall drop in unemployment is “a reflection of the combined effort between the council and the municipalities.” This partnership “enables us to reach every corner of Tenerife and address the specific needs of each territory, thus fostering the creation of job opportunities.”
Employability
The investment of 10 million Euros by the Cabildo in 2024 was directed towards promoting employability and economic development throughout the island. The initiatives included specialised training, promotion of entrepreneurship, hiring incentives, and strategic projects focused on critical sectors such as tourism, renewable energy, and innovation.
Commitment
The island president highlighted the commitment of the local corporation towards the most vulnerable groups: “From the Cabildo, we have initiated programmes that not only aim to reduce unemployment rates, but also to transform lives, particularly by supporting women, youth, and individuals over 45.” She acknowledged the positive statistics as “an achievement for the entire island.” She concluded with, “We will continue our efforts to ensure that employment trends positively in Tenerife.”
Municipalities
EPA data indicates significant disparities among municipalities regarding employment, although all have shown improvement compared to past periods. The municipalities with the lowest unemployment rates are Adeje at 8.9%, followed by Santiago del Teide (9.4%), San Miguel de Abona (9.5%), and Guía de Isora (9.8%). These figures demonstrate the economic vibrancy of these areas, largely driven by tourism and sectors associated with services.
Conversely, municipalities such as La Victoria de Acentejo, Los Silos, and Icod de los Vinos report the highest unemployment rates at 18.8%, 18.5%, and 18.3% respectively. Despite these challenges, these locations have also witnessed significant improvements thanks to initiatives from the council and collaboration with municipalities to promote employment. Regarding changes, the most substantial declines in unemployment rate over the past two years have been in Realejos (-3.6 points), El Sauzal (-3.2 points), and Güímar (-3.1 points), highlighting the effective impact of active employment strategies.
Employment
Moreover, we must consider the job creation statistics for the island during December 2024, with 2,013 new contracts having been signed as of December 2023, marking an increase of 8.5%, and accounting for nearly 54% of all contracts issued in the Canary Islands during the previous month, according to data from Istac. In Tenerife, new contracts totalled 25,682. The island president remarked, “There remains much to be done to position Tenerife where it ought to be in terms of leadership. Continuing to stimulate demand and stability, creating jobs, and supporting new economic sectors is vital. This council is not complacent; I refuse to be satisfied.”
