Crisis-hit Spaniards fight back

Spain fights crisis back

On average, every day in July has seen in Spain 145 new self-employed workers, more than 2,000 fewer unemployed and 1,000 more affiliates to the social security system. These data seem to point out that Spaniards are becoming more entrepreneurial.

For the first time since 2008 the number of self-employed workers in July did increase–by 4,368 last month–, which was the fifth rise in a row and has in the first seven months of the year accumulated 21,992 self-employed.

According to official figures from the employment public services, the number of unemployed workers fell in July again as it has since March. The jobless total is now of 4,698,814, that is 64,866 less people than in June or more than double the drop recorded in July 2012 of 27,814. The affiliated to the social security system grew by 32,890 month on month.

Lorezo Amor, president of the federation of self-employed worker associations in Spain ATA, was hopeful these developments announce that “the staggering unemployment in Spain we have suffered will now be reversed and we can expect our economy to begin its recovery.” Amor admitted that ATA studies do not rule out further job destruction in the first quarter of 2014, although it would be a short-lived loss of jobs. “In general,” he said, “this are great news as negative trends have been put a stop.”

ATA’s president also send a clear message to the Spanish government: “It is with a solid sector of self-employed workers that Spain can successfully fight back against the crisis. With less taxes and less bureaucracy and red tape, there would be even more self-employed, more economic activity and less late payments.”

About the Author

The Corner
The Corner has a team of on-the-ground reporters in capital cities ranging from New York to Beijing. Their stories are edited by the teams at the Spanish magazine Consejeros (for members of companies’ boards of directors) and at the stock market news site Consenso Del Mercado (market consensus). They have worked in economics and communication for over 25 years.

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