CCOO and UGT unions have welcomed the decrease in unemployment in the province of Seville after the March data was released; this marks the second consecutive month of decline. Currently, there are 735 fewer people on the State Public Employment Service (SEPE) lists and almost 4,000 new registrations in Social Security. However, they emphasize the need to establish public policies that protect employment «from external factors, such as the tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration (USA).»
«These types of measures affect job stability, so urgent actions are needed to prevent the penalization of Sevillian workers,» noted Jorge Carlos Lebrón, a member of the Executive Committee of CCOO in Seville, in a press release.
In the past year, a total of 12,725 men and women from Seville have found employment, representing a 7.56% reduction in unemployment. However, there are still around 155,668 people unemployed, and «the increase in unemployment among those seeking their first job remains a concern,» added the union leader.
«These data reflect a positive trend, but we must not become complacent. Seville continues to have a labor market marked by temporality and precariousness, with sectors still suffering from the impact of external reactionary policy decisions,» explained Lebrón.
CCOO recalls that in 2018, tariffs resulted in a 35% cost increase in exports of Spanish black olives or oil, leading to a 60% decrease in exports, «destroying over 300 direct jobs in the province.» According to CCOO, these measures «affect job stability and highlight the need to strengthen our economy with policies that protect employment and promote less vulnerable strategic sectors.»
On the other hand, UGT celebrates the decrease in unemployment but focuses on the gender pay gap, which remains a major concern. Female unemployment in Seville – 96,760 women compared to 58,000 men – requires specific measures, according to the union.
«Seville is improving, but it still faces structural problems such as temporality or seasonality. While it is true that labor reform has improved, as indicated by the fact that over 43% of contracts have been permanent, we still have high rates of temporary employment,» emphasized Maria Iglesias, UGT’s General Communications Secretary.
Additionally, Seville «suffers from a lack of economic diversification.» UGT believes that territorial agreements and more resources are urgently needed to transition to stable and quality employment.
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP CELEBRATES UNEMPLOYMENT REDUCTION
According to Miguel Rus, President of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Seville (CES), the positive data does not hide a reality in line with the external factors highlighted by the unions. «We will be closely monitoring Donald Trump’s announcements tonight, as he is expected to specify the tariffs that are causing uncertainty in global markets.»
Rus believes that it would be a blow to international trade, which is concerning, although it is still too early to assess its impact on the Seville economy. «What is certain is that, as we have demonstrated in the past, collaboration, joint effort, and adaptability will allow us to face any challenge.»
«We are convinced that the resilience of Sevillian companies and professionals will continue to be key to evolving in an increasingly changing and unstable global environment,» added the CES’s top executive.
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ASSESSMENT
Francisco Toscano, the Government Subdelegate in Seville, also highlighted the 7.5% decrease in unemployment compared to 2024 and 0.47% decrease compared to February.
He paid special attention to the agriculture and fishing sector, which saw a significant 15.5% reduction in unemployment compared to the previous year, with over 1,354 active individuals, as well as the construction sector, which reduced the number of unemployed by 11.2%, dropping from 14,566 in March 2024 to 12,938.
Toscano advocated for «continuing to promote equality, labor, and wage measures, as well as implementing policies to encourage the hiring of women, ensuring equal conditions when accessing job opportunities.»
«This decline in unemployment figures is aligned with rising economic forecasts, supported not only by the economic data periodically released by the Government but also by the latest barometer data from the College of Economists of Seville, indicating a 2.4% increase in the province’s GDP and 1.9% in 2026,» he concluded.
