15% of Spanish companies expect to increase their workforce this year, according to a study with 500,000 companies carried out by Iberinform (Crédito y Caución). The figure is similar to last year's data, but there are changes in the areas that show the most dynamism and movement also between sectors. This year there is a greater pull in the tourist autonomies, while the lower consumption power of families is noted.
At the national level, 15% of companies plan to increase their workforce. "The scenario can be described as moderately positive for employment", assesses Ignacio Jimenez, general director of Iberinform. "The broad data is that of 83% of companies that expect to maintain the stability of their workforce," he continues. Only 2% plan to destroy jobs.
Going down to detail, differences appear. By autonomies, those linked to tourism stand out. "Associated services are intensive in the use of labor. In a context of clear recovery in the sector, hospitality companies are the ones that expect the greatest growth. And this has a territorial impact," analyzes Jimenez. Thus, the greatest dynamism will occur in the Balearic Islands, where 21% of companies anticipate increases in their workforce this year. Autonomy jumps from seventh place last year, when back in March when the survey was done the pandemic maintained its impact. At the same time, it is where more companies, 5%, say they will reduce workers. It is followed by the Canary Islands, with 20%, which loses first place from last year.
Somewhat further behind are other economic engines such as Madrid (18%, goes from fourth place to the podium), Catalonia (16%, from sixth to fourth) and Andalusia (16%, in 2022 second).
Murcia is also above the national average (which falls from third to sixth place with its 16%), while Castilla-La Mancha and Melilla equal the average (15%). Ceuta (9%), Navarra (10%) and Cantabria (11%) present the lowest rates.
By jobs, the hotel industry is the leading labor sector, since 31% of companies expect to hire, one point more than last year and remaining the leader. The communications sector appears ten points behind (21%, from manufacturing and wholesale and retail trade to information technology), previously lagging behind.
The primary sector (especially the first links in the food chain) and business services, with 20%, lag somewhat behind.
The sectors where the lowest percentage of companies plan to increase the workforce are commerce (11%, the same figure as last year), industry (12%) and transport (13%). "It is indicative of the weakness of household consumption," Jimenez alerts.
The contraction of templates, the loss of jobs, varies between 1% and 3% of the business world depending on the sector, something better than the previous study. The highest, paradoxically, is also found in the hospitality industry.
There is one last striking fact. Although 15% expect to increase their workforce, up to 44% expect sales to increase. What is the gap due to? On one side is inflation, which causes nominal growth in income, without necessarily selling more units. On the other, "prudence in decision-making, both for new hires and investments, given the uncertainty posed by the evolution of the year," says Jimenez. The doubts have not just disappeared.
