WASHINGTON: Spain’s economy relies heavily on tourism and August is usually a weaker month for the job market as summer hiring by hotels and restaurants tails off, factories slow and teaching contracts end. All sectors saw an increase in unemployment in August although the rise was more pronounced in the services and industrial sector.
The increase in unemployment comes as politicians are still struggling to form a new government following two inconclusive elections in December and June which resulted in a hung parliament. Spain’s unemployment rate, which is calculated separately by national statistics institute INE, is still the highest in the eurozone after Greece’s.
