Spain's unemployment drops for first time in August in 13 years

The number of people registered as unemployed in Spain decreased in August for the first time in 13 years, official figures showed on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Employment and Social Security, jobless people decreased by 31 from July to August, in which unemployment used to increase because the tourist peak season ends as well as many temporary contracts. This drop leaves Spain with a total of 4,698,783 unemployed people in August, according to the ministry. It said that in annual terms, unemployment increased by 73,149 people since August 2012, up by 1.58 percent, while in the first eight months of the year, it decreased by 149,940 people, the best data during this period since 1999. The number of women unemployed decreased by 1,260, while men saw their unemployment increase by 1,229. Unemployment fell by 2,816 people in the construction sector and by 2,165 people in the agriculture sector. Meanwhile, it increased by 10,743 people in the services sector due to the end of the tourist season and increased by 3,427 people in the industry sector. There were a total of 1,043,166 new contracts in August, the ministry reported, while explaining that people affiliated to Spain's Social Security decreased by 99,069 people since July to a total of 16,327,687 after five consecutive months of increases. The lower jobless figure in August marked a six month of falling unemployment in the country, which was considered by the government as a positive sign. The Spanish Secretary of State for Employment Engracia Hidalgo said the new data confirmed that unemployment was falling, although she asked for prudence as the number of people unemployed in Spain was still very high. The Economy Minister Luis de Guindos was optimistic but also warned there was still a lot to do.