Balearics has fourth lowest rate of unemployment in Spain

PALMA
THE number of jobless fell by 2'306 people in the Balearics in 2006, some 5.8 percent in comparison to the year before, according to figures of the Workforce Poll (EPA) released yesterday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The report said that the number of people out of work is now 36'134, and the level of unemployment in the Balearics is 6.17 percent, the fourth lowest in Spain.

Between October and December of 2006, the number of unemployed people actually went up to 5'800, some 22.1 percent in comparison with the third quarter of 2006, while 37'300 jobs were lost, seven percent less.

This was considered normal, as it marks the end of the tourist season, when many bars, restaurants and hotels close for the winter.
The number of employed people increased by 20'034 people in 2006, nearly five per cent, meaning that the working population consisted of 523'800 people.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, the number of people in work fell by 31'500 in the Balearics, 5.67 percent in relation to the previous quarter.
Analysing by gender, male unemployment dropped by 5.34 percent in the Balearics, while female unemployment fell by 7.28 percent.
Throughout Spain unemployment fell by 30'600 people in 2006, which was some 1.66 percent in comparison with 2005.
The total number of jobless people is now 1'810'600 and the unemployed ratio has fallen by four tenths of a percentage point to 8.3 percent, the lowest figure since 1979, according to the findings of the Poll.

Between October and December last year the number of unemployed people rose by 45'600 people, 2.58 percent in comparison with the third quarter of 2006, while 106'200 jobs were created, 0.53 percent more.

Throughout 2006 687'600 jobs were created, making the interannual growth figure 3.56 percent and the total number of employed people 20'001'800, which is a new historic maximum.

New jobs occupied by Spanish citizens increased by 277'000 (1.6 percent) last year, and those occupied by foreigners by 410'600 (nearly 19 percent more).

This means that six out of every 10 new jobs created in Spain last year went to foreigners, the report said.