CCOO Aragón has expressed alarm over the slowdown in job creation and the increase in unemployment in the region, as indicated by data from the Active Population Survey (EPA) for the third quarter of 2026. During this period, the industrial sector lost 10,000 jobs, raising serious questions about the sustainability of the industrial transition model and the stability of global supply chains.
The gender gap remains a significant issue, with a female unemployment rate of 10.04%, compared to 8.55% for men, and a nearly ten-point difference in activity rates (64.01% for men and 54.15% for women). The youth demographic, particularly those aged 25 to 34, has been the hardest hit, with 16,500 individuals unemployed, representing an annual increase of 3,700.
In light of these challenges, CCOO Aragón is calling for an emergency plan to strengthen the industrial sector, ensure productive investment, foster innovation, and promote professional retraining in the context of ecological and digital transitions. Proposed measures include reducing working hours without loss of salary, specific insertion plans for youth, and enhancing collective bargaining to recover real wages in light of rising living costs.
EPA data for the third quarter of 2026 in Aragón
The EPA for this quarter indicates an increase in the number of active individuals, reaching 703,900 (3,300 more than in the second quarter), of which 638,900 were employed (4,400 fewer than the previous quarter) and 65,000 were unemployed (7,700 more than the previous quarter). The employment rate stands at 53.6%, with declines among both men (58.54%) and women (48.71%). The unemployment rate is 9.23%, reflecting an increase of 1.61 points for men (8.55%) and 0.42 points for women (10.04%).
The 65,000 unemployed individuals represent an increase of 6,100 compared to the third quarter of the previous year, with 32,400 men and 32,600 women among them. The age group of 25 to 34 years is the most affected, while the number of unemployed individuals aged 16 to 19 has decreased by 2,700, now totalling 2,600.
In terms of employment, there has been an increase of 8,400 individuals compared to the second quarter, reaching 638,900 (347,100 men and 291,800 women), primarily in the services sector (431,400) and the industrial sector (116,800), despite the latter suffering a loss of 10,000 jobs. Agriculture has seen a slight decrease of 100 individuals, while construction has increased its workforce by 2,800, reaching 48,000. The overall activity rate is 59.05%, with 64.01% for men and 54.15% for women.
