SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 28 APR. (Press Europa) –
The Deputy Minister of Employment for the Canary Islands Government, Isabel León, assessed on Monday the results of the Active Population Survey (EPA) for the first quarter of 2025, revealing that the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands boasts the highest employment figures on record, totalling 1,024,100 workers.
“In just one year, employment across the islands has risen by 27,900 individuals, marking a growth of 2.80%,” stated the vice-minister, adding that “this rate surpasses the national average of 2.43%.”
The number of employed individuals also increased compared to the previous quarter, with an addition of 400 workers (+0.04%), lifting the employment rate to 51.95%. In this manner, the Canary Islands rank among the only five regions in Spain that successfully created jobs in the first quarter of 2025, with key growth sectors being industry, which saw 1,600 new positions; construction, adding 700; and agriculture, with an increase of 400.
In terms of unemployment, the Canary Islands experienced a rise of 15.78% from the prior quarter, reaching 160,200 individuals without work. This increase, noted the vice-minister, “is consistent with trends seen nationwide and is primarily attributed to seasonal factors.”
In this context, she elaborated that when considering annual comparisons, which provide a clearer picture of the employment landscape in the islands, unemployment has decreased by 14,000 people, representing a decline of 8.02%, which also outperforms the national average of -6.34%. Consequently, the unemployment rate has fallen from 14.88% in the first quarter of 2024 to 13.53%.
Furthermore, León emphasised that these numbers emerge during a period when the Canary Islands are witnessing a historic peak in active population, with 1,184,300 individuals. “Between January and March, the islands recorded the largest increase in working-age citizens, at 1.91%, followed by Madrid with 1.01%.”
The activity rate has consequently risen by 1.03% to 60.07%, as highlighted by the Executive in a statement.
