Employment in Spain
Spain: Employment was 22,221 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
22,221
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
27th
of 174 countries
All-time high
22,221
in 2025
All-time low
10,641
in 1985
Years of data
53
1969–2025
Employment in Spain, 1969–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in Spain is 22,221, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Spain peaked at 22,221 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,641, in 1985.
Spain ranks 27th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Employment in Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 12,328 | — |
| 1970 | 12,433 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 12,499 | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 12,535 | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 12,652 | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 12,675 | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 12,356 | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 12,317 | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 12,328 | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 12,103 | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 11,912 | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 11,557 | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 11,231 | -2.8% |
| 1982 | 11,116 | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 11,044 | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 10,743 | -2.7% |
| 1985 | 10,641 | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 12,579 | +18.2% |
| 1991 | 12,609 | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 12,893 | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 12,324 | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 12,186 | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 12,494 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 12,787 | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 13,275 | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 13,814 | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 14,626 | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 15,440 | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 16,076 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 16,767 | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 17,423 | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 18,019 | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 19,207 | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 19,939 | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 20,579 | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 20,470 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 19,107 | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 18,724 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 18,421 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 17,631 | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 17,139 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 17,344 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 17,866 | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 18,341 | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 18,825 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 19,328 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 19,779 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 19,202 | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 19,834 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 20,548 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 21,182 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 21,654 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 22,221 | +2.6% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 22,221 is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,235, 9.9× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Spain's 22,221 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,067, 7.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12,328 | 12,328 | 12,328 | 1 |
| 1970s | 12,381 | 11,912 | 12,675 | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,055 | 10,641 | 11,557 | 6 |
| 1990s | 12,959 | 12,186 | 14,626 | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,303 | 15,440 | 20,579 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,340 | 17,139 | 19,779 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,773 | 19,202 | 22,221 | 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 employment in Spain?
- Employment in Spain was 22,221 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 22,221 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,641 in 1985.
- How does Spain rank for employment?
- Spain ranks 27th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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