elmundo.es
Record Spanish Employment Masks High Job Turnover
Spain's employment hit a record high of 22.27 million in July 2025, but this was achieved through 15,499,406 contracts, averaging 33 per new Social Security affiliate and 47 days per contract, highlighting excessive job turnover despite labor reforms.
- What are the potential long-term consequences of Spain's high job turnover on economic stability and social welfare?
- The Spanish labor market shows signs of exhaustion, failing to absorb the growing demand for jobs. The high number of contract terminations (22.9 million) surpasses new hires, suggesting a systemic issue. This is exacerbated by the increase in fixed-term discontinuous contracts and the resulting high job rotation, even among those with supposedly stable, indefinite contracts. This trend necessitates a review of labor market policies.
- What is the most significant impact of Spain's record employment figures, considering the concurrent high rate of job turnover?
- Spain reached a record high in employment with 22.27 million people working, according to the EPA survey. However, this achievement is overshadowed by excessive job turnover, despite restrictions on temporary contracts. The high turnover rate, averaging 33 contracts per new Social Security affiliate, points to a strained labor market.
- How do the high number of contracts and the limited decrease in unemployment relate to each other, and what are the underlying causes?
- The high number of contracts (15,499,406) needed to achieve the increase in employment (475,623) indicates a significant problem of job instability. Even indefinite contracts show high turnover, with 34,000 individuals holding multiple such contracts in July. This challenges the notion of indefinite contracts guaranteeing stable employment.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article's framing emphasizes the negative aspects of Spain's employment situation, using phrases like "cruda realidad" (crude reality) and focusing extensively on the high contract turnover and the concerns of labor unions. The headline, while factually correct about the record number of employed people, is followed by a narrative that contrasts sharply with this positive initial statement, potentially leading readers to focus more on the negative aspects.
Language Bias
The article uses strong language to describe the employment situation, particularly in the description of the high contract turnover and the concerns of labor unions. Terms like "enquistada" (encrusted), "insaciable" (insatiable), and "contratos cerilla" (matchstick contracts) carry negative connotations. While these terms convey the concerns effectively, more neutral alternatives could be used to maintain a greater degree of objectivity. For example, instead of "contratos cerilla", 'short-term contracts' could be used.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the negative aspects of Spain's employment situation, highlighting the high contract turnover and the concerns of labor unions. While it mentions the government's positive spin on employment figures, it doesn't delve into the government's perspective or policies in detail, potentially omitting counterarguments or explanations for the high turnover. The article also doesn't explore potential external factors influencing the job market, such as global economic conditions or technological changes. The limitations in scope, due to article length and audience attention, are understandable, but these omissions could impact the overall understanding of the complex situation.
False Dichotomy
The article doesn't present a clear false dichotomy, but it does frame the situation as a stark contrast between the positive headline numbers (record employment) and the negative reality of high contract turnover and the challenges of absorbing the growing demand for jobs. This could implicitly lead readers to a conclusion that the positive employment numbers are misleading.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a concerning trend of high job turnover in Spain, despite a record number of employed individuals. The excessive contract rotation, with an average contract duration of 47 days, undermines job security and stability, hindering progress towards decent work and sustainable economic growth. The creation of numerous short-term contracts does not translate into substantial reductions in unemployment, indicating a mismatch between job creation and employment needs. The high number of contract terminations further exacerbates this issue. This situation ultimately impacts economic growth as it doesn't contribute to long-term employment security and productivity.