Spain’s jobless numbers continue to rise

UNEMPLOYMENT in Spain increased in March by .82 per cent to 4,750,867 people, new Employment Ministry figures show.

This represents a 9.63 per cent increase on March 2011.

The majority of these, 2.8 million, are in the services industry while 810,375 are from construction.

While there was a slight drop in the number of foreign residents registered as unemployed, the number stands at 655,249 of which 203,423 are from EU countries.

The number of unemployed in Spain in March 2008 was 2.3 million, less than half the current number.

By region the Valencia Community now has 572,706 jobless people seeking employment, 1.2 per cent more than in February and 7.5 per cent more than in March 2011.

Within the Valencia region, Alicante Province saw a slight monthly rise to 225,735 people, 6.4 per cent more than last year.

The figures for Murcia follow a similar trend.

With 151,749 people out of work jobless numbers saw 0.34 per cent increase against February but 10.37 per cent more than in March last year.