BUDGET clothing store Primark has announced plans to open another branch in Madrid next month – the chain's 61st retail outlet in Spain.
Eight in 10 Spaniards temporarily laid off now back at work – second-highest figure in Europe
15/01/2021
A GLOBAL economic slowdown caused by the pandemic may in fact sound more frightening than it is – in Europe, at least: Eight in 10 Spanish workers temporarily laid off, or 'furloughed', are now back on the job, according to latest figures.
And although The Netherlands is doing better still, most of the rest of the continent is not far behind Spain.
Statistics from the ministry of work show that over 3.6 million employees in Spain were simultaneously affected by what is known in the country as an ERTE, or temporary redundancy, referred to as a 'furlough' in the UK.
But as at January 2021, a total of 2.9 million, or 79.1% of them, are now back at work.
Those who are not are mainly employed in tourism, hotel and catering industries, ranging from major hotel resorts to small, family-run local bars – these businesses are still suffering from the restrictions in place across the country, with very early evening closures imposed upon them, limited access to outside terraces and often as few as 30% allowed inside, with towns that have shut their borders due to high contagion rates having ordered all bars and restaurants to close completely.
Around 350,000 of the approximately 700,000 who are not yet back at work are in these industries, but Spain's government remains optimistic about their recovery.
Given that the temporary job losses are due to a health crisis rather than a purely financial one, as soon as the vaccine roll-out makes it safe, it is likely that more people than ever will want to take holidays and meet up with friends and family for drinks and meals, and possibly pour even greater energy and resources into doing so.
As one of the earth's top destinations for travellers of all tastes – from beach breaks and family holidays through to rural, active, or culture and city tourism – Spain is confident that once the pandemic is under control, it will be welcoming foreign visitors again in droves.
In The Netherlands, 85.7% of employees temporarily laid off are now back in their jobs – the highest figure in Europe, and the only country where these numbers are superior to Spain's.
Otherwise, Spain has beaten many of the continent's more affluent, northern nations.
In the UK, 73% are back at work and in Germany, 72.1%; elsewhere, the figure is under seven in 10 and even under two-thirds.
Austrian employees are back on the job in 69% of cases, whilst only 65.7% of those in Belgium are, 65.5% of French workers, and just 44.3% of those in Ireland.
In Italy, 'furloughed' employees are now working again in 56.4% of cases, but these figures are based on those temporarily laid off as at June, rather than March like the other countries listed.
The numbers do not show what percentages of the workforce in each country was, in fact, laid off – in nations relying more on service-based industries and professions and with a higher proportion of office workers, the numbers laid off may have been lower if companies did not suffer losses and were able to simply send their employees home to work remotely.
Neither do the figures show how self-employed or freelance workers, sole traders or small business owners in the various European countries are affected, or what proportion of the workforce they comprise.
But Spain's work ministry considers it promising that only 4.5% of the country's total active employees are still on 'furlough', a figure that also shows the relatively low ratio of staff temporarily laid off rather than being able to continue working throughout the pandemic.
In Germany, 5.2% of the total workforce remains laid off – unsalaried and claiming dole money but with their jobs held open until they are able to return to them – whilst in the UK, 8.9% of active employees are still on 'furlough', 10.9% in Austria, and 17% in Ireland.
Also, in Spain, the proportion of the total of active employees still on an 'ERTE' is only a third of that of comparable countries – those with a similar industry makeup and productivity level – such as France, where 12.2% of active employees remain at home, or Italy, where the number rises to 13.4%.
Although new temporary lay-offs continue to be announced in most sectors, these do not affect the current statistics which show that the motor industry now has 98.3% of its employees back at work, civil engineering 97.1%, and education 93%.
Related Topics
A GLOBAL economic slowdown caused by the pandemic may in fact sound more frightening than it is – in Europe, at least: Eight in 10 Spanish workers temporarily laid off, or 'furloughed', are now back on the job, according to latest figures.
And although The Netherlands is doing better still, most of the rest of the continent is not far behind Spain.
Statistics from the ministry of work show that over 3.6 million employees in Spain were simultaneously affected by what is known in the country as an ERTE, or temporary redundancy, referred to as a 'furlough' in the UK.
But as at January 2021, a total of 2.9 million, or 79.1% of them, are now back at work.
Those who are not are mainly employed in tourism, hotel and catering industries, ranging from major hotel resorts to small, family-run local bars – these businesses are still suffering from the restrictions in place across the country, with very early evening closures imposed upon them, limited access to outside terraces and often as few as 30% allowed inside, with towns that have shut their borders due to high contagion rates having ordered all bars and restaurants to close completely.
Around 350,000 of the approximately 700,000 who are not yet back at work are in these industries, but Spain's government remains optimistic about their recovery.
Given that the temporary job losses are due to a health crisis rather than a purely financial one, as soon as the vaccine roll-out makes it safe, it is likely that more people than ever will want to take holidays and meet up with friends and family for drinks and meals, and possibly pour even greater energy and resources into doing so.
As one of the earth's top destinations for travellers of all tastes – from beach breaks and family holidays through to rural, active, or culture and city tourism – Spain is confident that once the pandemic is under control, it will be welcoming foreign visitors again in droves.
In The Netherlands, 85.7% of employees temporarily laid off are now back in their jobs – the highest figure in Europe, and the only country where these numbers are superior to Spain's.
Otherwise, Spain has beaten many of the continent's more affluent, northern nations.
In the UK, 73% are back at work and in Germany, 72.1%; elsewhere, the figure is under seven in 10 and even under two-thirds.
Austrian employees are back on the job in 69% of cases, whilst only 65.7% of those in Belgium are, 65.5% of French workers, and just 44.3% of those in Ireland.
In Italy, 'furloughed' employees are now working again in 56.4% of cases, but these figures are based on those temporarily laid off as at June, rather than March like the other countries listed.
The numbers do not show what percentages of the workforce in each country was, in fact, laid off – in nations relying more on service-based industries and professions and with a higher proportion of office workers, the numbers laid off may have been lower if companies did not suffer losses and were able to simply send their employees home to work remotely.
Neither do the figures show how self-employed or freelance workers, sole traders or small business owners in the various European countries are affected, or what proportion of the workforce they comprise.
But Spain's work ministry considers it promising that only 4.5% of the country's total active employees are still on 'furlough', a figure that also shows the relatively low ratio of staff temporarily laid off rather than being able to continue working throughout the pandemic.
In Germany, 5.2% of the total workforce remains laid off – unsalaried and claiming dole money but with their jobs held open until they are able to return to them – whilst in the UK, 8.9% of active employees are still on 'furlough', 10.9% in Austria, and 17% in Ireland.
Also, in Spain, the proportion of the total of active employees still on an 'ERTE' is only a third of that of comparable countries – those with a similar industry makeup and productivity level – such as France, where 12.2% of active employees remain at home, or Italy, where the number rises to 13.4%.
Although new temporary lay-offs continue to be announced in most sectors, these do not affect the current statistics which show that the motor industry now has 98.3% of its employees back at work, civil engineering 97.1%, and education 93%.
Related Topics
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