The data of the Unemployment registered in February 2025 They are celebrated as the lowest figure in the last 17 years. However, there is a population group every time most of society in society That, far from lowering their unemployment figures like the rest, it does not stop increasing them: those over 45 years.
Increasingly older and more unemployed. The aging of the population is not only having a great impact on pensions, but is also reaching unemployment figures. According to the report ‘Labor Market of those over 45’ ‘ Published by the SEPE (Public State Employment Service), in the last two decades, those over 45 have established themselves as the group most affected by unemployment in Spain.
In 2000, unemployment between those over 45 barely represented 26.5% of the total unemployed. As reflected in the study of the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, that figure has grown alarmingly until reaching 57.4% in February 2025, a historical record.
The most unemployed group in Spain. The known as “Ageism Rate”, has added records of record since August 2021, showing a very different behavior from other age stripes such as young people under 25 or 35 years old.
While unemployment between children under 45 does not stop month by month with 1.1 million unemployed registered by the SEPE For this strip in February 2025 (which represents 23.5% less than in 1999), among those over 45 years of age there was an increase of 169% with respect to the data of the year 2000. Currently, the segment of those over 45 adds 1.49 million unemployed, consolidating itself as the population group most affected by unemployment in Spain.
The seniors do not raise their heads. In 2021, a process of recovering economic activity and employment began. General strike fell 35%, going from more than 4 million unemployed to 2,593,449 unemployed that were recorded in February 2025.
However, the reduction of unemployment in the strip of those over 45 was 23%, while for workers between 25 and 44 years unemployment was reduced by 46%. This shows that older workers face greater difficulties in rejoining the labor market, even in periods of economic recovery. So the ball is no longer in the roof of job creation, but in the hiring dynamics and Companies preferences.
Less contracts for those over 45 years old. According to the official data of hiring of the SEPE, the hiring of over 45 years grew less than the general average, in which the contracts to the youngest showed consolidated growth, while the segment of those over 45 years It showed a stagnation.
This group remains the least favored in sectors with high labor rotation. In addition, in months of high seasonality, such as May and June, the age of age can exceed 58%, demonstrating that seniors are frequently excluded in these seasonal hiring campaigns, decanting by younger employees.
The measures are not working. In 2023, the Employment Lawdestined to encourage hiring by bonuses those over 45 years in order to avoid long -term unemployment in a segment that still has two decades left for reach retirement age.
On the other hand, those over 45 They contribute many years of contribution behind them, what gives them the right to benefits in the form of subsidies, something that does not occur in other sectors of the population (such as those under 25 years old), which impacts more intensity on the coffers of the State.
However, and despite The economic benefits For the State that would imply addressing this problem, two years after the employment law was approved, the advances are minimal. Far from reducing, almost two points has grown, reflecting the stagnation of public policies to address this problem.
Image | Unspash (Spencer Davis)