Spain's jobless numbers fall again in June, but still high

[MADRID] The number of Spaniards registered as jobless fell for the fifth straight month in June with services sector employment boosted by the start of tourist season, though more than 4 million people remained out of work.

Joblessness fell by 2.25 per cent in June from a month earlier, or by 94,727 people, Thursday's Labour Ministry data showed.

Services saw a fall of 61,887 people and industry and construction a combined 25,845.

Overall, 4.12 million were out of work, and in seasonally adjusted terms, the headline figure was virtually unchanged.

The total number of people paying in to the social security system rose to 17.3 million by the end of June, up 0.2 per cent from a month earlier.

Jobless figures rose in January for the first time since October, marking the end of the busy Christmas season. The numbers began falling again in February and have dropped in each month since then.

The monthly jobless data shows the total number of people registered with the Labour Ministry as out of work.

Unemployment data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), considered to offer a more complete picture of the labour market, relies on a survey of the working population.

The first quarter INE unemployment rate stood at 23.8 per cent. The second quarter figure is due to be reported on July 23.

REUTERS