Andalusia recorded 62,738 fewer unemployed people over the year to September 2026, added 118,695 Social Security contributors and reached a new record of 605,258 people registered as self-employed, according to regional Employment Minister Rocío Blanco. The year-on-year fall in unemployment was 10.46%, compared with 1.74% across Spain.
Unemployment rose in Andalusia by 6,733 people (1.27%) in September, bringing the total to 536,989—the region’s fourth-lowest figure since March 2008. The regional government described the increase as seasonal, noting that unemployment has risen in September in every year except during the pandemic. Across Spain, registered unemployment increased by 23,587 (1%) to 2,379,505. Andalusia had the country’s sixth-smallest relative increase; unemployment also rose in every region except the Canary Islands and La Rioja.
Compared with a year earlier, unemployment fell in every sector, all eight provinces and every age group. The largest sectoral decrease was in services, down 43,228 people (10.43%), accounting for 69% of the overall fall. The government cautioned that a new classification of economic activities, introduced in March, may have shifted some activities between sectors and affected the figures independently of changes in the labour market.
Unemployment increased in September among both men and women, but the year-on-year decline was greater among women: 11.70%, compared with 8.45% among men. In September, unemployment fell only in Seville, by 0.52%, while it declined year on year in all eight provinces. The regional government said eight Andalusian provinces were among the nine provinces in Spain with the largest annual decreases.
Social Security affiliation in Andalusia fell by 4,093 in September (0.11%) to 3,582,927. Across Spain, it rose by 92,327 (0.41%) to 22,437,553. Over the year, affiliation in Andalusia increased by 118,695 (3.43%), accounting for 16% of the national increase.
The number of self-employed workers in Andalusia rose by 3,289 in September to 605,258, a new record for membership in the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA). The region has held the highest number nationally since May 2021. Compared with September 2025, Andalusia had 15,243 more self-employed workers, an increase of 2.6%.