Spain’s construction sector is experiencing an unprecedented revival, reaching levels not seen in nearly a quarter of a century. As of the end of November 2025, the number of unemployed in this sector had dropped to 172,448 people. This figure marks an all-time low since records began in 2001. From January to November of this year alone, the number of construction job seekers decreased by 26,042, representing a 13.1% decline. This rate is more than double the average decrease in unemployment across the national economy, which stood at 5.3%.
The contrast with the crisis years is striking: in March 2012, at the height of the recession, the construction industry recorded over 810,000 unemployed. Since then, that number has dropped by an impressive 78.7%. Despite this overall positive trend, labor market conditions in the construction sector vary greatly by region. The highest numbers of unemployed professionals remain in Andalucía (49,554), Cataluña (22,091), the Valencian Community (21,069), and Madrid (18,340). Meanwhile, in La Rioja and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, the number of registered unemployed construction workers does not even reach a thousand.
November 2025 was a milestone not only for the construction sector. The total number of registered unemployed in Spain dropped to 2,424,961—the best result for any November since 2007. All key sectors of the economy saw positive trends. The largest decrease was observed in the services sector, where the number of unemployed fell by 13,013. Industry and agriculture also contributed, reducing unemployment by 1,552 and 1,332 respectively. Notably, joblessness declined among both sexes, with the drop among women being three times more pronounced, and unemployment among people under 25 reached a historic low for November.
However, the trend varied across the autonomous communities. Six regions saw an increase in unemployment, most notably in the Balearic Islands (+2,534) and Castilla y León (+1,035). Meanwhile, the main drivers of unemployment reduction were Andalucía (-6,934), Madrid (-3,903), and Cataluña (-3,119). Provincial data confirms this trend: Madrid, Barcelona, and Sevilla recorded the largest decreases in unemployment, while the situation worsened in the Balearic Islands, León, and Málaga.
Incidentally, all employment and unemployment statistics in Spain are collected and processed by the State Public Employment Service (SEPE). This organization operates under the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy. SEPE not only tracks the number of unemployed individuals, but is also responsible for managing employment assistance programs, vocational retraining, and for calculating and disbursing unemployment benefits. The data published by SEPE serve as a key indicator of the state of the Spanish economy and labor market.
