The Community of Madrid records its highest number of employed individuals in history, with 3,631,300 workers, according to the EPA for the second quarter of 2026. Unemployment drops to 7.6%, the lowest level for a second quarter since 2008.
The Community of Madrid has achieved a new employment record in the second quarter of 2026, with 3,631,300 people employed, the highest figure in its entire historical series. This is reflected in the Active Population Survey (EPA) published this Tuesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), which places regional unemployment at 297,900 individuals, the lowest figure for a second quarter since 2008.
Compared to the previous quarter, the region has added 62,100 more employed individuals, representing an increase of 1.7%. The number of unemployed has decreased by 8,800 individuals compared to the first three months of the year, a decline of 2.9%.
The unemployment rate in the Community of Madrid stands at 7.6%, 2.3 points below the national average (9.9%). Youth employment also improves: unemployment among those under 25 years old drops to 19.8%, more than two points lower than in the previous quarter and four points below the Spanish average. In the case of women, the unemployment rate stands at 8.6%, 2.4 points lower than the national average.
The quality of employment is also noteworthy. 88.5% of salaried workers in Madrid have a permanent contract, a percentage that exceeds the national average by 3.6 points. This figure reinforces the trend towards job stability in the region.
The active population continues to grow: Madrid adds 53,300 new active individuals during the second quarter, reaching 3,939,100 people. The activity rate stands at 63.9%, compared to 59.3% for the whole of Spain, representing a difference of 4.6 points. According to the regional government, the region contributes almost one in five new active individuals registered in the country during this period.
The regional government has assessed these results as a demonstration of the strength of the Madrid labour market, which combines employment growth, a decrease in unemployment, and a high level of contractual stability. The regional government emphasizes that Madrid continues to be one of the main economic engines and job creators in Spain, with a model that attracts economic activity and maintains unemployment levels below the national average.
For the residents of the Community of Madrid, these figures represent an improvement in job prospects and greater job security, with an unemployment rate at historically low levels. The positive evolution of the Madrid labour market contrasts with the national average, where unemployment still exceeds 9.9%.
The EPA for the second quarter of 2026 confirms the recovery and dynamism of employment in the region, which sets records in both employment and contractual quality. The upcoming quarters will be key to seeing if this trend consolidates.
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