Employees by occupation in Spain
Spain: Employees by occupation was 18,933 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
18,933 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
6th
of 47 countries
All-time high
18,933 Thousand persons
in 2025
All-time low
7,594 Thousand persons
in 1986
Years of data
40
1986–2025
Employees by occupation in Spain, 1986–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, employees by occupation in Spain stood at 18,933 Thousand persons. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employees by occupation in Spain peaked at 18,933 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7,594 Thousand persons, in 1986.
Spain ranks 6th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Employees by occupation in Spain, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 7,594 Thousand persons | — |
| 1987 | 7,874 Thousand persons | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 8,282 Thousand persons | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 8,801 Thousand persons | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 9,226 Thousand persons | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 9,383 Thousand persons | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 9,514 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 9,086 Thousand persons | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 9,001 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 9,330 Thousand persons | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 9,598 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 10,112 Thousand persons | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 10,658 Thousand persons | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 11,478 Thousand persons | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 12,320 Thousand persons | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 12,855 Thousand persons | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 13,584 Thousand persons | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 14,249 Thousand persons | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 14,749 Thousand persons | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 15,722 Thousand persons | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 16,386 Thousand persons | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 16,966 Thousand persons | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 16,859 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 15,878 Thousand persons | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 15,588 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 15,390 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 14,568 Thousand persons | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 14,065 Thousand persons | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 14,283 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 14,771 Thousand persons | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 15,226 Thousand persons | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 15,713 Thousand persons | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 16,231 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 16,667 Thousand persons | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 16,107 Thousand persons | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 16,659 Thousand persons | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 17,368 Thousand persons | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 17,961 Thousand persons | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 18,437 Thousand persons | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 18,933 Thousand persons | +2.7% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 18,933 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,801 Thousand persons, 6.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Spain's 18,933 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,127 Thousand persons, 6.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8,138 Thousand persons | 7,594 Thousand persons | 8,801 Thousand persons | 4 |
| 1990s | 9,739 Thousand persons | 9,001 Thousand persons | 11,478 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,957 Thousand persons | 12,320 Thousand persons | 16,966 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,250 Thousand persons | 14,065 Thousand persons | 16,667 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,577 Thousand persons | 16,107 Thousand persons | 18,933 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More work & labour data for Spain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4982 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1207 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,073 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,322 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,076 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,051 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,128 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employees by occupation in Spain?
- Employees by occupation in Spain was 18,933 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest employees by occupation recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 18,933 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest employees by occupation recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,594 Thousand persons in 1986.
- How does Spain rank for employees by occupation?
- Spain ranks 6th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employees by occupation rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employees by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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