The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in Spain from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, 3.62 percent of the workforce in Spain were employed in agriculture, 19.89 percent in industry and 76.49 percent in services.

Labor force, total in Spain was reported at 24386307 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Spain - Labor force, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Key information about Spain Labour Force Participation Rate

• Spain Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 58.5 % in Dec 2024, compared with 59.0 % in the previous quarter.
• Spain Labour Force Participation Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2021 to Dec 2024, with an average rate of 58.6 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 59.3 % in Sep 2023 and a record low of 57.6 % in Mar 2021.
• Spain Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by National Statistics Institute.
• In the latest reports, Spain Population reached 48.1 million people in Dec 2023.
• Unemployment Rate of Spain dropped to 10.6 % in Dec 2024.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 2,545.5 USD in Sep 2024.

Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Spain was reported at 46.98 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Spain - Labor force, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The number of employees in the construction sector in Spain grew by approximately ******* people from the last quarter of 2022 to the end of 2023. Spain’s construction workforce has remained relatively stable during the last years. In late 2023, there were **** million workers in construction. During the economic crisis of 2008, the workforce significantly dropped to approximately ******* in 2013.

Labor Force Participation Rate in Spain increased to 59.03 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 58.57 percent in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - Spain Labor Force Participation Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in Spain amounted to ***** percent in 2024. Between 1990 and 2024, the labor participation rate rose by **** percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education) in Spain was reported at 79.08 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Spain - Labor force with advanced education (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Spain ES: Labour Force data was reported at 22,741.700 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22,822.725 Person th for 2016. Spain ES: Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 16,815.388 Person th from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23,443.700 Person th in 2012 and a record low of 13,044.900 Person th in 1980. Spain ES: Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Spain ES: Labour Force: % Change data was reported at -0.355 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -0.433 % for 2016. Spain ES: Labour Force: % Change data is updated yearly, averaging 1.355 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2017, with 37 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.043 % in 2002 and a record low of -1.082 % in 2013. Spain ES: Labour Force: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Labor Force Participation Rate Total: 15 Years or over for Spain (LRACTTTTESQ156S) from Q1 1999 to Q1 2025 about 15 years +, Spain, participation, labor force, labor, and rate.

Spain ES: Unemployment: National Estimate: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 15.660 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.120 % for 2016. Spain ES: Unemployment: National Estimate: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 13.480 % from Dec 1973 (Median) to 2017, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.600 % in 2013 and a record low of 2.450 % in 1973. Spain ES: Unemployment: National Estimate: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Labor Force Participation Rate Male: From 25 to 54 Years for Spain (LRAC25MAESQ156N) from Q1 1999 to Q1 2025 about 25 to 54 years, Spain, males, participation, labor force, labor, and rate.

Spain ES: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15-64 data was reported at 69.249 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 69.208 % for 2016. Spain ES: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 56.242 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.249 % in 2017 and a record low of 41.497 % in 1990. Spain ES: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Graph and download economic data for Civilian Labor Force: All Persons in Spain (DISCONTINUED) (ESPLFTOTADSMEI) from 1956 to 2011 about Spain, civilian, labor force, and labor.

This statistic shows the level of employment in Spain from 2015 to 2023, with projections up until 2025. In 2023, the level of employment in Spain was around 21.01 million people. Economy of Spain Before the economic crisis started in 2007, Spain’s economy was one of the most thriving in the European Union, but since it was severely hit and officially entered recession in 2009, gross domestic product / GDP growth in Spain has been struggling to recover. The amount of money banks have been lending to Spain due to the euro crisis is enormous, but the country still has a long way to go. There is still a vast difference between government revenue and spending in Spain, with spending being significantly higher than revenue. Today, a look at a comparison of GDP and national debt in selected euro countries reveals that Spain’s GDP is higher than that of other countries which were severely affected by the economic crisis, i.e. Greece, Portugal and Ireland. However, when looking at the national debt in the European Union, Spain’s national debt is still one of the highest. The rate of employment has been decreasing constantly since the crisis, while the unemployment rate in Spain has been increasing dramatically and still continues to rise. Just as in other affected countries, many people are losing their jobs while the younger generation graduating from universities are struggling to find employment. Many are leaving the country in search of work elsewhere. In 2012, Spain introduced a labor reform which is slowly taking effect.

Spain: Labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 57.38 percent, a decline from 57.7 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 60.63 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Spain from 1990 to 2024 is 55.36 percent. The minimum value, 49.74 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 59.4 percent was recorded in 2012.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Labor Force Participation Rate Male: From 15 to 74 Years for Spain (LRAC74MAESA156N) from 1999 to 2024 about 15 to 74 years, Spain, males, participation, labor force, labor, and rate.

Spain: Labor force, million people: The latest value from 2023 is 24.15 million people, an increase from 23.73 million people in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 20.40 million people, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Spain from 1991 to 2023 is 20.71 million people. The minimum value, 15.63 million people, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 24.15 million people was recorded in 2023.

Analysis unit

Persons

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: yes - Vacant Units: no - Households: no - Individuals: yes - Group quarters: yes

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Dwellings: Regular or permanent residence used for all or most of the year - Households: Yes - Group quarters: Not applicable

Universe

The population living in family dwellings, i.e. those used all or most of the year as a regular or permanent residences. The survey excludes group dwellings, i.e. hospitals, hotels, barracks, convents, etc. It does include families that reside in these establishments but form an independent group, as can be the case of the managers of the centres, or the caretakers and porters.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: National Institute of Statistics (INE)

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): ~160,000.

SAMPLE DESIGN: Two-stage sample with stratification of the first-stage units. The first-stage units are census sections. Second-stage units are the main family dwellings (inhabited permanently) and fixed accommodations (shacks, caves, etc.). Census sections are stratified by province according the the size and demographic relevance of the municipality to which they belong. Within in each geographic stratum, census sections are substratified according socio-economic criteria. Since 2015, 3822 census sections and 20 dwellings are selected (25 in Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, and Zaragoza). Each dwelling remains in the sample for six consecutive quarters.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

A single questionnaire with 10 sections: 1) General information from all interviewees; 2) Questions on relation to economic activity; 3) Type of employment; 4) Job search; 5) Professional experience; 6) Education and training; 7) Registration at the Public Employment Office; 8) Diverse situations; 9) Situation one year ago; 10) Work during the previous year.