Record of employment in the Balearic Islands: 681,800 workers and the lowest unemployment in the State
The Archipelago creates 108,000 jobs in just three months and registers an unemployment rate of 6.11%, the lowest of all autonomous communities
PalmaThe Balearic Islands have reached a new employment record in the second quarter of 2026, with 681,800 people working, coinciding with the start of the tourist season. According to the Active Population Survey (EPA), published this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the Archipelago has created 108,000 jobs in just three months, representing an increase of 18.8% compared to the previous quarter and 35,500 more employed people than a year ago (+5.4%).
In parallel, unemployment has fallen to 44,400 people, 47,400 less than the previous quarter, a decrease of 51.6%, and 7,300 less than in the same period of 2025 (-14.2%). The unemployment rate thus stands at 6.11%, the lowest of all autonomous communities and the best figure recorded in a second quarter since 2007.
The increase in employment coincides, once again, with the start of the high tourist season, a period in which the Balearic labor market traditionally registers the most significant increases in workers. In fact, since the INE has been compiling this statistic, the second quarter has always been synonymous with a decrease in unemployment in the Islands.
The active population has also grown significantly. Between April and June, the number of people working or looking for work increased by 60,600 people (+9.1%), reaching 726,100. Compared to a year ago, the active population has grown by 28,100 people (+4%).
More than 88% of salaried employees have a permanent contract
The EPA also reflects that most of the employment created continues to be stable. The number of employees with permanent contracts increased by 101,100 people during the second quarter, while temporary contracts only grew by 3,300.
In total, the Balearic Islands have 577,800 employees, of which 511,600 have a permanent contract, 88.5% of the total, compared to 66,200 temporary ones.
Most of the new employment was generated in the private sector, which incorporated 102,200 more workers (+21.7%), while public administration added 5,900 (+5.8%).
Full-time employment also increased significantly. The number of workers with this type of contract increased by 103,000 people, to 611,700 employed, while part-time contracts grew by 5,100 people.
Unemployment falls among both men and women
By gender, unemployment decreased for both men and women, although it continues to affect the female population more. The number of unemployed women decreased by 18,400 people to 27,500, with an unemployment rate of 7.94%. Among men, unemployment fell by 29,000 people to 16,900 unemployed, with a rate of 4.44%.
Regarding young people under 25 years of age, the youth unemployment rate stood at 17.08%, after the number of young people without work decreased by 2,400 people during the quarter.
By sector, the most significant reduction in unemployment occurred in services, with 49,100 fewer unemployed, followed by construction (-3,000) and industry (-100). On the other hand, the number of people seeking their first job or who had been out of the labor market for more than a year increased.
In the State as a whole, the Balearic Islands were the second autonomous community where more employment was created during the quarter, only behind Catalonia, and one of those that registered a greater reduction in unemployment, along with Catalonia and the Valencian Community.