Alicante Leads Unemployment Drop Across the Valencia Region in April 2026

Alicante Tops the Valencia Region

Alicante recorded the strongest unemployment reduction of any provincial capital in the Valencia region in April 2026, with 1,336 fewer people out of work compared to March — a monthly decrease of 1.14%. By comparison, Valencia city recorded a smaller monthly drop of 918 people.

On a year-on-year basis, the figures are even more striking: 6,965 fewer people are unemployed in Alicante province compared to April 2025, a reduction of 5.68%. Total registered unemployment in the province now stands at 115,728 people.

Sector Breakdown

The services sector drove the majority of April's job gains, accounting for 1,238 of the monthly reduction. Sector totals for registered unemployed are:

• Services: 80,109
• Industry: 12,867
• Construction: 9,291
• Agriculture: 3,243

Gender and Age Figures

Female unemployment remains significantly higher than male unemployment in the province: 70,327 women are registered as unemployed compared to 45,401 men. Among younger workers, 6,551 people under 25 are currently registered as jobless.

Spain's Best National Unemployment Figure Since 2008

The positive Alicante figures come against an equally encouraging national backdrop. Spain's total registered unemployment fell to 2,357,044 people in April — below 2.4 million for the first time since June 2008, nearly 18 years ago. Nationally, 62,668 fewer people were registered as jobless compared to March.

For residents and expats on the Costa Blanca, the figures reflect a labour market that continues to strengthen — with Alicante province leading the way within its region.

This article is based on reporting from Euro Weekly News, published May 5, 2026.