Economically Active Population Survey. Q3/2026

The employed population in Catalonia grew by 1.2% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, reaching 3,999,900 people. In absolute terms, the year-over-year increase was 49,300 people. Compared to the second quarter of 2026, the number of employed people increased by 2,100 (0.1%).

By sector, in year-over-year terms, the employed population grew in services (64,900 people; 2.2%) and construction (13,400 people; 5.3%). Conversely, the employed population fell in industry (− 27,500 people; −4.1%) and in agriculture (−1,500 people; −2.6%). It should be noted that the Economically Active Population Survey, in 2026, collects economic activity according to the dual classification CCAE-2009 and CCAE-2025. The year-over-year comparisons as well as the rates of change have been calculated using the CCAE-2009.

By sex, in year-over-year terms, the employment grew by 2.2% among women and 0.4% among men. By age, the highest year-over-year increase in employment compared to the previous year occurred among the population aged 55 and over (4.8%), followed by the 16 to 24 age group (3.6%). The population group aged 25 to 54 remains practically stable (−0.1%). Compared to the previous quarter, the number of employed persons aged 16 to 24 increased by 8.7% and those aged 55 and over increased by 0.5%. Conversely the number of employed persons group aged 25 to 54 decreased by 1.1%.

By type of working day, in year-over-year terms, the full-time employment increased by 1.8% and the part-time employment decreased by 2.3%. Among the salaried employees, by type of contract, indefinite contracts increased by 2.5% and temporary contracts decreased by 1.6%.

The unemployment rate stood at 8.30%, with a total of 361,800 unemployed people (9,700 more than the previous year, representing an increase of 2.8%. By sex, unemployment among men grew by 15.5% year over year (with an unemployment rate of 8.34%), and that among women fell by 8.6% (with an unemployment rate of 8.24%). By age, the unemployed population aged 55 and over increased by 25.1% and those aged 25 to 54 by 5.1%. Conversely the unemployed population aged 16 to 24 decreased by 16.0%.

Regarding specific sectors, the population employed in the cultural sector stood at 194,400 people (4.9% of total employment) decreasing by 5.1% year over year and increasing by 17.0% quarter over quarter. By sex, the cultural sector employed 112,000 men and 82,400 women.

In the tourism sector, the employed population stood at 552,100 people, accounting for 13.8% of total employment. This figure represents a increase of 5.2% compared to the second quarter of 2026 and a increase of 9.2% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. By sex, this sector employed 308,200 men and 243,900 women.

The ICT sector employed 186,700 people in the third quarter of 2026 (7.1% more than a year earlier and 9.2% more than the previous quarter), accounting for 4.7% of total employment.