During the pandemic, the number of job seekers (workers who register with public services to look for a job or improve the one they already have, to receive services such as guidance or because they are obliged to register to receive a contributory benefit or a subsidy) reached unprecedented figures. For example, in September 2020 there were 25,330 claimants in the Pitiusas, a number that dropped to 12,138 a year ago. And what happened in 2022? Well, from the ceiling of two years ago it has dropped significantly: 5,936, the lowest number since 2007 (5,548), although it is not comparable because at that time there was much less population.

What is the reason? It is the confirmation that, at least in terms of employment and up to this point in the season, the Pitiusan labor market has behaved excellently. It also corroborates that the figures of unemployed (3,627, the best figure for 16 years) and affiliations are not a mirage or a trick. “The reduction of claimants is due to the decrease in the number of unemployed and to the fact that the seasonal workers are working more months”, explains in this respect Llorenç Pou, Balearic general director of Employment.

The data of contributors to the Social Security system continue to be exceptional. The latest (from August) raise the figure to 87,565 affiliated on Ibiza, almost 11,000 more than a year ago and about 2,000 more than in 2019, before the health crisis began. This is an all-time record. On Formentera, 6,976 contributors were registered that month, 122 more than three years ago.

Temporary workers decrease substantially

And the most relevant thing is that for another month (the eighth since the labor reform took place) the number of temporary workers has substantially decreased to the benefit of permanent workers. Thus, of the 70,027 workers in the general regime, 64,723 were permanent, no less than 92.4%.

The evolution experienced since January shows how, inexorably, permanent employment has gained ground over temporary employment. And not only proportionally, but also quantitatively and qualitatively: not only are there more permanant contracts, but they are also better. The progression is striking: in January, permanent employees accounted for 70.6% of the total number of workers; in February, 71.6%; in March, 77.3%; in April, 86.3%; in May, 89.9%; in June, 91.3%; in July, 91.8%, and in August, 92.4%.