At the end of August, unemployment in Hego Euskal Herria stood at 140,770 people, almost 3,000 more than last August. Between July and August, the number of unemployed increased by 3,364 in the previous month. Most women: almost six out of ten.

By region, the largest increase in unemployment occurred in Gipuzkoa, with an increase of 4.64%, and in Bizkaia, with an increase of 2.84%, and in Álava, with 1.29%, and in Navarre, with 0.22%. So it has risen everywhere.

"The usual", according to the Basque Government; Navarra stresses "stability"

Vice Minister of Employment of the Basque Government, Alfonso Gurpegui, has stated that "in August, year after year without exception, unemployment rises and membership falls, so doing a global analysis is not so significant". The increase in unemployment, as you said, is the most noticeable in education, especially in the classes of monitoring or reinforcement. In any case, it has given a message of tranquillity, as "there are good prospects" for the autumn in the Basque Country.

Councillor Carmen Maeztu, for her part, highlighted the "stability" of employment policies in Navarra: The number of unemployed increased by 66 in August. "It is no wonder that unemployment in Navarre is increasing in August, because our community puts more strength in the industry, much more than in tourism," Maeztu said.

The trade unions, in protest

"It was the worst August since 2010," said the ELA trade union at a press conference in Bilbao: "Contracts concluded in August continue to have the same characteristics as previous months, are precarious and temporary, and have become effective. In the contract signed in August, 79% of the contracts were temporary, according to data provided by Eustat. This is a source of concern, as the trend of this indicator continues to increase". On the other hand, according to ELA, half of the unemployed received no benefit in July and one in three contributory unemployment benefits.

LAB says that "public policies must be developed" to create quality jobs: "Unemployment particularly affects the groups of workers in the most vulnerable situation, as it is also a result of the precarious situation in the workplace and the consequent increase in unemployment."