Press release 21/01/2025
SURVEY ON POPULATION IN RELATION TO ACTIVITY. IV/2024
The number of people in work was down 0.2% and the employment rate remained at 7.1% but with 1,100 fewer unemployed people in the fourth quarter of 2024
Last year, the number of people in work increased by 15,700 and the unemployment rate fell by one tenth of a percentage point, from 7.2% to 7.1%
Data on the labour market in the Basque Country from the fourth quarter of 2024 showed 2,000 more people in work and 1,100 fewer unemployed people than in the previous quarter, according to Eustat data. There were an estimated 75,600 unemployed people and the figure for people in work stood at 995,100 in this fourth quarter of 2024.
The unemployment rate in the Basque Country remained at 7.1%, compared to the third quarter of 2024. As a result of the evolution in the employed and unemployed population, the activity rate, calculated for the population aged 16 and over, was 56.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, three tenths down on the previous quarter.
By province and compared to the previous quarter, Gipuzkoa saw 2,500 fewer people in work, Bizkaia 2,100, while in Álava there were 2,700 more employed people. With regards to the capitals, there were 3,800 fewer people employed in Bilbao and 1,200 fewer in San Sebastián. However, there was an increase of 3,400 in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
The decrease in employment was among men (-5,900), whilst there were 3,900 more women in work. With regards to nationality, the number of Spanish nationals in work decreased by 4,300 (-0.5%) and the number of foreign nationals in work rose by 2,300 (+2.4%).
Employment increased or stayed the same in all sectors except Industry
The working population in the Basque country decreased by 3,600 (-1.8%) in Industry, this stayed the same in Services and increased by 200 people (+0.4%) in Construction, and by 1,400 in the primary sector (+15.9%).
The employment rate, calculated as the percentage of employed people aged 16 to 64 over the total for these ages, dropped one tenth of a percentage point compared to the previous quarter to stand at 71%. This rate rose to 73.7% among men and dropped to 68.2% among women, 0.6 percentage points up on the previous quarter.
As regards nationality, the highest employment rate was recorded among Spanish nationals at 72.7%, down 0.4 percentage points in respect of the previous quarter, whereas for foreign nationals this rose by 1.4 points to stand at 58.3%.
By province, Gipuzkoa had the highest employment rate at 73%, a decrease of three tenths of a percentage point compared to the previous quarter. Álava was in second place with 70.9% and an increase of 1.1 percentage points; and, lastly, in Bizkaia, the employment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points to stand at 69.7%.
In relation to the types of contracts of salaried individuals, the number of people with permanent contracts increased by 1,700 in respect of the previous quarter and, in relation to the fourth quarter of the previous year, this rose by 29,700 people.
In six out of every ten households all active individuals were employed
In the fourth quarter of 2024 it was estimated that there were 925,100 households in the Basque Country, of which a third did not have any active individuals, 4,100 more households than in the previous quarter. In almost six out of every ten households, all of the active individuals were in work, 2,500 fewer families. Furthermore, households where all active individuals were unemployed stood at 27,000, 200 fewer households than in the previous quarter.
The third quarter of 2024 posted an unemployment rate of 7.1%
The unemployed population in the Basque Country, i.e. individuals who are available for work, actively making enquiries and seeking employment, was estimated to be 75,600 in the fourth quarter of the year, down 1,100 on the previous quarter. The number of unemployed men (35,600) was down by 2,200, whilst the number of unemployed women increased by 1,100, reaching a total of 40,000 for the quarter.
The data for the fourth quarter of 2024 revealed an unemployment rate of 7.1%, the same as the previous quarter. The unemployment rate for men fell by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% and the unemployment rate for women rose by 0.1 percentage points to reach 7.7%.
With regards to nationality, the unemployed population figure decreased among foreign nationals by 3,800 to stand at 17,100. Among Spanish nationals this increased by 2,700 to reach 58,500 people out of work.
By province, in Álava, the number of unemployed people fell by 2,000 to stand at 11,400, and the unemployment rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points to stand at 7%. In Bizkaia, with 43,800 people out of work, the number of unemployed fell by 600 and the unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 7.9%. In Gipuzkoa, the number of unemployed people increased by 1,400 to stand at 20,400 and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points to 5.7%.
As regards the capitals, there were 2,000 fewer unemployed people in Bilbao, 400 more in San Sebastián and 200 more in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in respect of the previous quarter.
According to EUROSTAT, the Statistical Office of the European Union, in November 2024 the deseasonalised unemployment rate of the European Union as a whole stood at 5.9% and that of Spain was 11.2%.
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, the number of employed people rose to 15,700 and the unemployment rate fell by one tenth
Last year, in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2023, there were 15,700 more people in work, a 1.6% increase. There were 17,400 more people working in the services sector; 2,400 more in agriculture; and 400 more in construction. There were 4,400 fewer people working in industry. As regards unemployed people, despite 100 people being added to the unemployment figures for the Basque Country, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points (from 7.2% to 7.1%).
97.1% of average registered workers were employed, according to ILO criteria
It is calculated that there were 941,600 registered workers for the quarter on average in the Basque Country, i.e. the number of individuals resident in the Basque Country who were registered for Social Security, weighted by the number of days worked in the quarter. Of those, the PRA estimates that 97.1% were employed, a total of 914,600 individuals, according to criteria from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Amongst those employed according to ILO criteria in the PRA, 44,000 people (4.4%) were not registered in the Social Security system, because they belonged to public mutual societies for civil servants, or because they were in other situations.
38.4% of unemployed people were not registered as being unemployed
It is estimated that there was a quarterly average of 88,200 unemployed people registered with Lanbide, i.e. people residing in the Basque Country who were registered on Lanbide at the time of the survey in any one of the categories designated for registered unemployment. Of those, 51.2% were unemployed according to the ILO definition (45,200 people). 38.4% of unemployed people according to the ILO definition in the PRA were not registered as unemployed with Lanbide (29,000 people), even though they may have been registered under other categories of job seeker.
Population with relation to activity in the Basque Country. 2024/IV
| | IV/2024 | III/2024 | t/t-1 |
| | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | % |
| POPULATION AGED 16 AND OVER | 1.906,2 | 1.900,2 | +6,0 | +0,3 |
| | | | | |
| WORKING POPULATION | 1.070,7 | 1.073,8 | -3,1 | -0,3 |
| Men | 551,6 | 559,8 | -8,2 | -1,5 |
| Women | 519,1 | 514,0 | +5,1 | +1,0 |
| | | | | |
| Araba/Álava | 163,5 | 162,7 | +0,8 | +0,5 |
| Bizkaia | 552,6 | 555,2 | -2,6 | -0,5 |
| Gipuzkoa | 354,7 | 355,8 | -1,1 | -0,3 |
| | | | | |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz | 121,6 | 120,2 | +1,4 | +1,2 |
| Bilbao | 165,3 | 169,0 | -3,7 | -2,2 |
| Donostia / San Sebastian | 90,8 | 91,7 | -0,9 | -1,0 |
| Other Municipalities | 693,0 | 692,9 | +0,1 | +0,0 |
| | | | | |
| Spanish nationality | 956,1 | 957,7 | -1,6 | -0,2 |
| Foreign nationality | 114,6 | 116,1 | -1,5 | -1,3 |
| | | | | |
| EMPLOYED POPULATION | 995,1 | 997,1 | -2,0 | -0,2 |
| Men | 516,0 | 521,9 | -5,9 | -1,1 |
| Women | 479,1 | 475,2 | +3,9 | +0,8 |
| | | | | |
| Araba/Álava | 152,1 | 149,4 | +2,7 | +1,8 |
| Bizkaia | 508,8 | 510,9 | -2,1 | -0,4 |
| Gipuzkoa | 334,3 | 336,8 | -2,5 | -0,7 |
| | | | | |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz | 112,9 | 109,5 | +3,4 | +3,1 |
| Bilbao | 150,5 | 154,3 | -3,8 | -2,5 |
| Donostia / San Sebastian | 85,1 | 86,3 | -1,2 | -1,4 |
| Other Municipalities | 646,6 | 646,9 | -0,3 | -0,0 |
| | | | | |
| Spanish nationality | 897,6 | 901,9 | -4,3 | -0,5 |
| Foreign nationality | 97,5 | 95,2 | +2,3 | +2,4 |
| | | | | |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 10,2 | 8,8 | +1,4 | +15,9 |
| Industry | 196,6 | 200,2 | -3,6 | -1,8 |
| Construction | 56,4 | 56,2 | +0,2 | +0,4 |
| Services | 731,9 | 731,9 | +0,0 | +0,0 |
| | | | | |
| Salaried | 824,4 | 823,7 | +0,7 | +0,1 |
| - with a permanent contract | 659,7 | 658,0 | +1,7 | +0,3 |
| - - With temporary contract and without contract | 164,7 | 165,6 | -0,9 | -0,5 |
| Unwaged | 170,7 | 173,4 | -2,7 | -1,6 |
| | | | | |
| UNEMPLOYED POPULATION | 75,6 | 76,7 | -1,1 | -1,4 |
| Men | 35,6 | 37,8 | -2,2 | -5,8 |
| Women | 40,0 | 38,9 | +1,1 | +2,8 |
| | | | | |
| 16 - 24 years | 8,3 | 8,1 | +0,2 | +2,5 |
| 25 - 44 years | 31,6 | 33,5 | -1,9 | -5,7 |
| 45 years and over | 35,7 | 35,1 | +0,6 | +1,7 |
| | | | | |
| Araba/Álava | 11,4 | 13,4 | -2,0 | -14,9 |
| Bizkaia | 43,8 | 44,4 | -0,6 | -1,4 |
| Gipuzkoa | 20,4 | 19,0 | +1,4 | +7,4 |
| | | | | |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz | 8,7 | 10,7 | -2,0 | -18,7 |
| Bilbao | 14,8 | 14,6 | +0,2 | +1,4 |
| Donostia / San Sebastian | 5,7 | 5,3 | +0,4 | +7,5 |
| Other Municipalities | 46,4 | 46,0 | +0,4 | +0,9 |
| | | | | |
| Spanish nationality | 58,5 | 55,8 | +2,7 | +4,8 |
| Foreign nationality | 17,1 | 20,9 | -3,8 | -18,2 |
| | | | | |
| INACTIVE POPULATION | 835,6 | 826,4 | +9,2 | +1,1 |
| | | | | |
| HOUSEHOLDS | 925,1 | 923,6 | +1,5 | +0,2 |
| Households with active individuals | 611,1 | 613,7 | -2,6 | -0,4 |
| - All employed | 544,7 | 547,2 | -2,5 | -0,5 |
| - All unemployed | 27,0 | 27,2 | -0,2 | -0,7 |
| Households without active individuals | 314,0 | 309,9 | +4,1 | +1,3 |
The data for the current year are provisional and the previous year have been revised with the updating of the population based on January 1 of that year.
t / t-1 Variation of the last quarter observed with regards to the immediately preceding quarter
Date January 21, 2025
Source: Eustat Population with relation to activity survey
Population with relation to activity in the Basque Country. Main rates. 2024/IV
| | IV/2024 | III/2024 | t/t-1 (p.p.) |
| EMPLOYMENT RATE | 56,2 | 56,5 | -0,3 |
| Men | 60,3 | 61,4 | -1,1 |
| Women | 52,3 | 52,0 | +0,3 |
| | | | |
| Araba/Álava | 57,5 | 57,4 | +0,1 |
| Bizkaia | 55,2 | 55,7 | -0,5 |
| Gipuzkoa | 57,1 | 57,4 | -0,3 |
| | | | |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz | 57,0 | 56,5 | +0,5 |
| Bilbao | 55,2 | 56,7 | -1,5 |
| Donostia / San Sebastian | 57,3 | 58,1 | -0,8 |
| Other Municipalities | 56,1 | 56,3 | -0,2 |
| | | | |
| Spanish nationality | 55,2 | 55,4 | -0,2 |
| Foreign nationality | 66,0 | 67,2 | -1,2 |
| | | | |
| EMPLOYMENT RATE (aged 16-64 years) | 71,0 | 71,1 | -0,1 |
| Men | 73,7 | 74,7 | -1,0 |
| Women | 68,2 | 67,6 | +0,6 |
| | | | |
| Araba/Álava | 70,9 | 69,8 | +1,1 |
| Bizkaia | 69,7 | 70,1 | -0,4 |
| Gipuzkoa | 73,0 | 73,3 | -0,3 |
| | | | |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz | 70,1 | 68,4 | +1,7 |
| Bilbao | 69,0 | 70,5 | -1,5 |
| Donostia / San Sebastian | 74,2 | 75,0 | -0,8 |
| Other Municipalities | 71,2 | 71,3 | -0,1 |
| | | | |
| Spanish nationality | 72,7 | 73,1 | -0,4 |
| Foreign nationality | 58,3 | 56,9 | +1,4 |
| | | | |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATE | 7,1 | 7,1 | +0,0 |
| Men | 6,5 | 6,8 | -0,3 |
| Women | 7,7 | 7,6 | +0,1 |
| | | | |
| 16 - 24 years | 13,2 | 12,1 | +1,1 |
| 25 - 44 years | 7,4 | 7,8 | -0,4 |
| 45 years and over | 6,2 | 6,1 | +0,1 |
| | | | |
| Araba/Álava | 7,0 | 8,2 | -1,2 |
| Bizkaia | 7,9 | 8,0 | -0,1 |
| Gipuzkoa | 5,7 | 5,3 | +0,4 |
| | | | |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz | 7,2 | 8,9 | -1,7 |
| Bilbao | 8,9 | 8,7 | +0,2 |
| Donostia / San Sebastian | 6,2 | 5,8 | +0,4 |
| Other Municipalities | 6,7 | 6,6 | +0,1 |
| | | | |
| Spanish nationality | 6,1 | 5,8 | +0,3 |
| Foreign nationality | 14,9 | 18,0 | -3,1 |
| | | | |
| INACTIVITY RATE | 43,8 | 43,5 | +0,3 |
The data for the current year are provisional and the previous year have been revised with the updating of the population based on January 1 of that year.
t / t-1 Variation of the last quarter observed with regards to the immediately preceding quarter
p.p = Difference in percentage points
Date January 21, 2025
Source: Eustat Population with relation to activity survey
For further information:
Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.eus Tel.: 945 01 75 62