Unemployment down by 33´700

The figure meant that the Balearics was the region of the country registering the highest downturn in unemployment for the period but there are still 130'100 people without work in the Islands, a jobless rate of 21.27 percent.

The survey revealed that the fall in unemployment in the Balearics of 20.59% during the second quarter is in stark contrast to joblessness at a national level which increased by 0.95 percent over the same period.

However, seen in year on year terms, the picture is rather different. Unemployment in the Balearics actually grew from the second quarter of 2011 to the same period of this year by 12.63% meaning that there were 14'600 more people without work in the Islands in Q2 this year.

But the positive perspective is that in the second quarter of this year, 60'400 jobs were available to the labour market, 14.35 percent more than during the previous three months. This was the highest increase in job creation in the country, according to the INE, and means that there are now 481'600 people in active employment in the Balearics.

Reaction to the figures published yesterday was mixed. The Balearic Socialists (PSIB) pointed out that it was all very well to speak of increased employment in the spring and summer but there are still 38'000 families in the Islands with all its adult members out of work and that unless urgent measures are taken, the winter months could prove “dramatic” for those struggling to get from one month to the next.

The Workers Commission (CCOO) said that what was once seen as an unemployment problem has now become a potential threat to society and that unless the regional and national governments don't make a political “U-turn” in their programme of public service spending cuts, the unions will take firm action.