The Spanish tourism sector continues on its path to recovery, once the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic has been overcome and with the vaccination rate reaching 80% of the population in the country as a whole.
The number of contributors to Social Security in the tourism sector grew in September by 134,903 workers more than a year ago. This is an increase of 6% year-on-year, according to the latest data published by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
In September, tourism employed 2,365,731 people in Spain.
This is the fourth consecutive month that the tourism sector has registered annual growth.
With the September data, employment in tourism represents 12.2% of the total number of contributors to Social Security in the Spanish economy.
Employment by activity branches
This growth has been recorded in almost all branches of tourism activity.
In the hospitality industry there was a growth of 101,253 affiliates (55,934 in food and beverage services and 45,319 in accommodation services).
Other tourist activities increased by 35,712 affiliates, while in travel agencies there was a decrease of 2,062 workers.
Salaried employment in the sector, which represents 79.3% of the total, grew by 7.4% year-on-year and self-employment by 1%.
Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Reyes Maroto welcomed this development, which in her opinion confirms that "the trend of growth in tourism employment and its dynamism is consolidated, which indicates that the recovery of tourism is underway and will be completed in 2022."
