Press Release: Economically Active Population Survey (EAPS). Sub-sample variables. Year 2025.

Main results

31.5% of those employed worked in 2025 in companies with fewer than 10 workers, six tenths more than the previous year. 14.4% of those employed did so in companies with 250 workers or more, two tenths higher than in 2024.
A total of 452,000 employed persons, mostly women, worked part-time in order to have more time to care for dependents. This figure was 8.3% higher than in 2024.
The study specialisation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) presented the highest employment rate in 2025 (81.72%). That of Agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, forestry and veterinary had the lowest unemployment rate (5.11%).

More information

The average number of employed persons in 2025 was 22,221,100, an increase of 567,200 compared to 2024.

By establishment size, it is worth noting the increase of 5.1% in establishments of 10 to 49 workers (245,200 more people) and of 4.6% in those of less than 10 workers (305,800 more).

Employed persons by number of persons working in the establishment

Thousands of persons

15.6% of those employed worked in companies with 50 to 249 workers, a percentage two tenths lower than the previous year.

On the contrary, in establishments of less than 10 workers, the percentage of employed people increased by six tenths (from 30.9% in 2024 to 31.5%), in those of 10 to 49 workers, five tenths (from 22.4% to 22.9%) and in companies of 250 or more workers, one tenth (from 14.3% to 14.4%).

Type of job position

Seven of every 10 workers in Spain had a boss but no subordinates in 2025. On the other hand, 9.0% of workers were self-employed (no bosses or subordinates); 6.7% were middle-level managers; 6.4% were heads of small companies, departments or branches, 6.2% were persons in charge, workshop or office manager, foreperson or similar; and 0.7% were directors of large or medium-sized companies.

By sex, the percentages of men were higher than those of women in all types of jobs; except in the case of employees (with bosses and without subordinates), where the percentage of women exceeded that of men by 10.7 points.

Of particular note are the gender differences in percentages for head of small companies, departments or branches (3.4 points) and for the self-employed (no bosses or subordinates) of 2.9 points.

Employed persons by type of job position and sex

Percentage

{
 "mode": "table",
 "category": [
 "2025",
 "2024",
 "Both sexes",
 "Men",
 "Women",
 "Total",
 "Employees (with bosses and without subordinates)",
 "Persons in charge",
 "Middle-level managers",
 "Directors of small companies, departaments or branches",
 "Directors of large or medium-sized companies",
 "Self-employed (without a boss or subordinates)",
 "Cannot say"
 ],
 "ids": [
 "table_1_2025",
 "",
 "",
 "table_1_2024",
 "",
 "",
 "table_1_Both_sexes",
 "table_1_Men",
 "table_1_Women",
 "table_1_Both_sexes",
 "table_1_Men",
 "table_1_Women",
 "table_1_Total",
 "table_1_Employees_with_bosses_and_without_subordinates",
 "table_1_Persons_in_charge",
 "table_1_Middlelevel_managers",
 "table_1_Directors_of_small_companies_departaments_or_branches",
 "table_1_Directors_of_large_or_mediumsized_companies",
 "table_1_Selfemployed_without_a_boss_or_subordinates",
 "table_1_Cannot_say"
 ],
 "col": [
 [
 "0",
 "2"
 ],
 [
 "",
 "3"
 ],
 [
 "",
 "4"
 ],
 [
 "1",
 "2"
 ],
 [
 "",
 "3"
 ],
 [
 "",
 "4"
 ]
 ],
 "row": [
 [
 "5"
 ],
 [
 "6"
 ],
 [
 "7"
 ],
 [
 "8"
 ],
 [
 "9"
 ],
 [
 "10"
 ],
 [
 "11"
 ],
 [
 "12"
 ]
 ],
 "data": [
 "100.0",
 "100.0",
 "100.0",
 "100.0",
 "100.0",
 "100.0",
 "70.6",
 "65.7",
 "76.3",
 "70.5",
 "65.8",
 "75.9",
 "6.2",
 "7.5",
 "4.8",
 "6.6",
 "7.5",
 "5.5",
 "6.7",
 "7.1",
 "6.2",
 "6.4",
 "7.0",
 "5.7",
 "6.4",
 "8.0",
 "4.6",
 "6.3",
 "7.8",
 "4.6",
 "0.7",
 "1.0",
 "0.3",
 "0.6",
 "0.8",
 "0.3",
 "9.0",
 "10.4",
 "7.5",
 "9.3",
 "10.8",
 "7.6",
 "0.3",
 "0.4",
 "0.3",
 "0.4",
 "0.4",
 "0.4"
 ],
 "textLad": [
 "",
 ""
 ],
 "title": "",
 "leftSideCols": 1,
 "rowsHeader": 2
}

Labour Intermediation and working conditions

The number of employees hired through a temporary employment agency (ETT) was 726,100 in 2025. It accounted for 3.9% of the total, compared to 4.0% in 2024.

On the other hand, 319,700 employees (1.7% of the total) obtained their employment through the assistance of a public employment office. It is 0.2% lower than in 2024.

A total of 83.4% of those employed did not work any days in their private home (83.6% in 2024), 7.9% did so more than half the days (7.8% in 2024), and 7.7% worked from home occasionally (7.6% in 2024).

32.4% of employed persons worked at least one Saturday per month, four tenths less than in 2024. As for Sunday, 20.9% of those employed worked at least one Sunday a month, a similar percentage to 2024 (21.0%).

A total of 10.8% of employed persons worked on night shift (11.4% in 2024). 6.3% did so occasionally and 4.5% on more than half of the days they worked. The percentage of male night workers (12.8%) exceeded that of women (8.4%).

Dependence

A total of 452,000 employees worked part-time in order to have more time to care for dependents in 2025, which was 8.3% more than in the previous year.

The majority of those who worked part-time, in order to simultaneously work as caregivers were women (419,500, 9.9% more than in the previous year). Men were 32,500, 8.9% less than in 2024.

Persons who are employed part-time because they take care of dependent persons

Thousands of persons

Training

Considering the Spanish population aged 16 and over, 55.0% had general training, basic training and personal skills, which correspond to people who have at most reached compulsory secondary education or baccalaureate.

The rest of the population had some specialty in 2025, highlighting the Business, Administration and Law studies sector (10.8%).

Influence of training on the labour market

The population aged 16 and over trained in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) presented the highest employment rate in 2025 (88.61%).

This sector also had the highest rates by sex -89.14% for men (compared to 86.62 in 2024) and 86.66% for women (compared to 81.05 in 2024)-.

On the other hand, those people with General training, basic adult training and personal skills presented the lowest activity rates (45.58%). And in both men (53.38%) and women (37.89%).

Activity rates by field of the highest level of education successfully completed and sex

Percentage

{
 "mode": "table",
 "category": [
 "2025",
 "Both sexes",
 "Men",
 "Women",
 "Total",
 "Basic programmes and personal skills",
 "Education",
 "Arts, humanities and languages",
 "Social sciences, journalism and information",
 "Business, administration and law",
 "Biological and related sciences, physical sciences and mathematics and statistics",
 "Information and communication technologies(ICTs)",
 "Engineering and engineering trades, manufacturing and construction",
 "Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary",
 "Health and welfare",
 "Servicies",
 "Unknown fields / Not applicable"
 ],
 "ids": [
 "table_1_2025",
 "",
 "",
 "table_1_Both_sexes",
 "table_1_Men",
 "table_1_Women",
 "table_1_Total",
 "table_1_Basic_programmes_and_personal_skills",
 "table_1_Education",
 "table_1_Arts_humanities_and_languages",
 "table_1_Social_sciences_journalism_and_information",
 "table_1_Business_administration_and_law",
 "table_1_Biological_and_related_sciences_physical_sciences_and_mathematics_and_statistics",
 "table_1_Information_and_communication_technologiesICTs",
 "table_1_Engineering_and_engineering_trades_manufacturing_and_construction",
 "table_1_Agriculture_forestry_fisheries_and_veterinary",
 "table_1_Health_and_welfare",
 "table_1_Servicies",
 "table_1_Unknown_fields__Not_applicable"
 ],
 "col": [
 [
 "0",
 "1"
 ],
 [
 "",
 "2"
 ],
 [
 "",
 "3"
 ]
 ],
 "row": [
 [
 "4"
 ],
 [
 "5"
 ],
 [
 "6"
 ],
 [
 "7"
 ],
 [
 "8"
 ],
 [
 "9"
 ],
 [
 "10"
 ],
 [
 "11"
 ],
 [
 "12"
 ],
 [
 "13"
 ],
 [
 "14"
 ],
 [
 "15"
 ],
 [
 "16"
 ]
 ],
 "data": [
 "58.96",
 "63.81",
 "54.36",
 "45.58",
 "53.38",
 "37.89",
 "71.96",
 "72.22",
 "71.88",
 "69.68",
 "73.76",
 "66.98",
 "77.37",
 "75.33",
 "78.52",
 "79.29",
 "79.86",
 "78.94",
 "76.69",
 "76.38",
 "76.99",
 "88.61",
 "89.14",
 "86.66",
 "77.34",
 "76.93",
 "80.69",
 "80.63",
 "80.20",
 "81.44",
 "76.12",
 "79.06",
 "75.25",
 "76.97",
 "77.43",
 "76.65",
 "27.93",
 "40.00",
 "18.26"
 ],
 "textLad": [
 "",
 ""
 ],
 "title": "",
 "leftSideCols": 1,
 "rowsHeader": 2
}

The highest employment rate in 2025 occurred in people trained in ICT (81.72%). The lowest, in people with General training, basic adult training and personal skills (39.16%).

By gender, the female employment rate was higher than the male rate in Social sciences, journalism and documentation and in Mechanics, electronics and other technical training, industry and construction.

As for unemployment, the highest unemployment rate was registered among those people who had attended General training, basic adult training and personal skills (14.08%). And the lowest was among those trained in Agriculture, livestock, fishing, forestry and veterinary medicine (5.11%).

In most education sectors, the female unemployment rate was higher than the male, except in Arts, humanities and languages, Social sciences, journalism and documentation and Health and social services.

Unemployment rates by field of the highest level of education successfully completed and sex

Percentage

{
 "mode": "table",
 "category": [
 "2025",
 "Both sexes",
 "Men",
 "Women",
 "Total",
 "Basic programmes and personal skills",
 "Education",
 "Arts, humanities and languages",
 "Social sciences, journalism and information",
 "Business, administration and law",
 "Biological and related sciences, physical sciences and mathematics and statistics",
 "Information and communication technologies(ICTs)",
 "Engineering and engineering trades, manufacturing and construction",
 "Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary",
 "Health and welfare",
 "Servicies",
 "Unknown fields / Not applicable"
 ],
 "ids": [
 "table_1_2025",
 "",
 "",
 "table_1_Both_sexes",
 "table_1_Men",
 "table_1_Women",
 "table_1_Total",
 "table_1_Basic_programmes_and_personal_skills",
 "table_1_Education",
 "table_1_Arts_humanities_and_languages",
 "table_1_Social_sciences_journalism_and_information",
 "table_1_Business_administration_and_law",
 "table_1_Biological_and_related_sciences_physical_sciences_and_mathematics_and_statistics",
 "table_1_Information_and_communication_technologiesICTs",
 "table_1_Engineering_and_engineering_trades_manufacturing_and_construction",
 "table_1_Agriculture_forestry_fisheries_and_veterinary",
 "table_1_Health_and_welfare",
 "table_1_Servicies",
 "table_1_Unknown_fields__Not_applicable"
 ],
 "col": [
 [
 "0",
 "1"
 ],
 [
 "",
 "2"
 ],
 [
 "",
 "3"
 ]
 ],
 "row": [
 [
 "4"
 ],
 [
 "5"
 ],
 [
 "6"
 ],
 [
 "7"
 ],
 [
 "8"
 ],
 [
 "9"
 ],
 [
 "10"
 ],
 [
 "11"
 ],
 [
 "12"
 ],
 [
 "13"
 ],
 [
 "14"
 ],
 [
 "15"
 ],
 [
 "16"
 ]
 ],
 "data": [
 "10.50",
 "9.26",
 "11.89",
 "14.08",
 "12.06",
 "16.87",
 "7.49",
 "6.57",
 "7.78",
 "10.25",
 "11.10",
 "9.63",
 "8.75",
 "9.47",
 "8.36",
 "7.61",
 "6.30",
 "8.41",
 "5.81",
 "4.29",
 "7.24",
 "7.78",
 "7.00",
 "10.82",
 "6.16",
 "5.73",
 "9.51",
 "5.11",
 "2.41",
 "10.13",
 "7.43",
 "7.64",
 "7.36",
 "12.27",
 "8.99",
 "14.57",
 "17.85",
 "14.48",
 "23.78"
 ],
 "textLad": [
 "",
 ""
 ],
 "title": "",
 "leftSideCols": 1,
 "rowsHeader": 2
}

Data revisions and updates

The data published today are final. All the results are available on INEBase.

Methodological note

The 2021 EAPS methodology, like the previous 2005 methodology, continues to consider the use of a subsample of the Survey, distributed throughout the year, in order to provide information on structural variables on an annual average. In particular, the Commission Execution Regulation (EU) 2019/2240 specifies the technical data of the data set, and Comission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/256, which establishes the different periodicities of the variables to be analysed.

The objective of these variables is to lessen the response workload of the EAPS, which had grown uninterruptedly with each of its methodological changes. The sub-sample used for these variables is that of households ending its collaboration with the EAPS each quarter of the year, that is, those that are in their sixth interview.

Type of survey:: annual continuous survey, for sub-sample variables.
Population scope:: population residing in family homes.
Geographical scope:: the whole national territory.
Reference period for the results:: the year.
Reference period of the information:: the week before the interview.
Sample size of the sub-sample:: The sub-sample has a lower number of records than the quarterly EAPS files. It consists of approximately 32,000 households.
Sampling type:: two-stage sampling with stratification in the first stage units. The first stage units are the census tracts and the second stage units are the inhabited family dwellings.
Collection method:: personal, telephone and computer-assisted web interviews.

For more information, you can access the methodology and the standardised methodological report.

INE statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for European Statistics. More information on Quality at INE and Code of Best Practices.