elpais.com
Spanish Companies Favor Temporary Layoffs Over Permanent Job Cuts Amidst Economic Slowdown
In the first half of 2025, 38,350 Spanish employees were affected by temporary layoffs (ERTEs), a 31% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, while permanent layoffs (EREs) affected 18,540, slightly increasing by 2%. The decrease is attributed to a strong economy and employment growth.
- How did the economic situation and specific company actions contribute to the employment adjustment figures?
- Spain's robust economy and employment growth mitigated the impact of employment adjustments. However, some sectors still experienced significant job cuts. For example, Bridgestone Hispania implemented an ERE affecting 420 employees due to market restructuring, and Alcampo reduced its workforce by 196 employees as part of a store closure plan.
- What are the potential long-term implications of these employment adjustment trends for the Spanish economy and workforce?
- While the decrease in ERTEs reflects a positive economic outlook, the persistent use of both ERTEs and EREs, particularly in sectors like automotive and retail, suggests ongoing structural challenges. The long-term impact depends on sustained economic growth and successful adaptation to changing market demands.
- What were the main trends in employment adjustments in Spain during the first half of 2025, and what factors influenced these trends?
- Temporary layoffs (ERTEs) remained the most common adjustment, affecting 38,350 employees—a 31% decrease from the first half of 2024. Permanent layoffs (EREs) slightly increased by 2% to 18,540 employees. This is largely due to Spain's strong economy and employment growth of 2.7% in Q2 2025, as reported by the Active Population Survey (EPA).
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced overview of the situation, highlighting both the decrease in ERTEs and the slight increase in EREs. The headline could be improved to reflect this balance more clearly. The introduction clearly states the main trend, but could benefit from mentioning the slight increase in EREs earlier for better context. The inclusion of specific examples, such as Bridgestone and Alcampo, strengthens the analysis by providing concrete examples to support the claims.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective. Terms like "ajuste de plantilla" (staff adjustment) are used instead of more emotionally charged words. However, phrases like "catastrĂłficos desbordamientos" (catastrophic overflows) concerning the Valencia floods might be considered slightly subjective. More neutral phrasing, such as "severe flooding", could be used. The overall tone is informative rather than opinionated.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the economic context and the impact on employment figures. While it mentions the Valencia floods, it might benefit from expanding on other potential contributing factors to the changes in ERTE and ERE numbers, such as governmental policies or changes in labor laws. The analysis could also expand on the long-term impacts of these employment adjustments on the affected workers and the overall economy.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article directly addresses SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by reporting on employment adjustments in Spain. The decrease in ERTEs (temporary employment suspension) compared to the previous year indicates a positive impact on employment stability. While EREs (collective redundancies) increased slightly, the overall reduction in employment adjustments suggests progress towards decent work and sustainable economic growth. The article highlights the impact of economic conditions on employment decisions, aligning with the SDG's focus on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.