How sharply has unemployment fallen?

The Canary Islands recorded a total of 140,303 registered unemployed people in September 2026. That was 4,156 fewer than in August, a fall of 2.88 percent, according to the Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal (SEPE, the state employment service) on 2 October 2026.

The year-on-year fall was even more pronounced at 5,070 people or 3.49 percent. The Canary Islands therefore reached their lowest unemployment level since December 2007. Nationally, registered unemployment rose in September.

The Canary Islands led the fall among all Spanish regions. They were one of only two autonomous communities where unemployment fell in September, according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy.

How is the fall distributed across the provinces?

The fall was spread across both Canary Island provinces. In the province of Las Palmas the number of unemployed fell by 2,224 people, and in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife by 1,932, according to SEPE.

By economic sector, the 140,303 unemployed people were made up of 2,093 in agriculture, 5,127 in industry and 11,343 in construction. The services sector accounted for the largest share with 110,848 unemployed people and also recorded the sharpest fall of 4,078 people.

A further 10,892 people had no previous employment. Unemployment fell by 4,078 people in services, by 200 in construction, by 176 in agriculture and by 112 in industry. Among people with no previous employment it rose by 410.

What do the figures mean for jobseekers?

The total number of registered jobseekers stood at 207,317 people. Of these, 35,421 were already in work and 150,102 were not in work, according to SEPE. The group of registered unemployed people comprises 140,303 people.

Long-term unemployment fell to 62,835 people. That was 491 fewer than in August and 4,469 fewer than a year earlier. Its share of all registered unemployed people was 44.79 percent, the lowest level since January 2009.

SEPE remains responsible for unemployed people. Specific entitlements depend on the individual contribution record and the relevant benefit. The available sources do not mention any new application deadline.

How are contracts and social security developing?

69,644 employment contracts were signed in the Canary Islands in September. That was 9,764 more than in August, an increase of 16.31 percent, and 2,203 more than in September 2025, according to SEPE.

The number of people registered with the social security system reached 974,246. That corresponds to an increase of 10,454 compared with August and almost 29,000 compared with the previous year, a rise of 3.07 percent.

148,807 people were insured under the special scheme for self-employed workers. That is 628 more than in the previous month and 3,207 more than a year earlier.

What was paid out in unemployment benefits?

29,646 unemployment benefit claims were submitted in the Canary Islands in August. Of these, 27,460 were approved on average within 0.51 days, according to SEPE.

A total of 103,330 people received benefits. Spending amounted to 119.3 million euros. The figures refer to the month of August, as benefit data are published with a one-month delay.

The publication of the labour market data does not change any residence, travel, price or application rules for residents, foreign residents or visitors.

What remains open in the September figures?

The available sources do not contain detailed tables by island, municipality, age, sex and contract type. These data are only available in the full SEPE or ISTAC table, according to the Canary Islands statistics institute ISTAC.

The next regular comparison is the publication of the labour market data for October 2026. The available sources do not give an exact publication date.

The SEPE statistics measure what is known as paro registrado, meaning people who are registered as jobseekers with the public employment services. It does not correspond exactly to the unemployment rate of the EPA, a survey carried out by the Spanish statistics institute INE.