The SEPE records 74,362 unemployed over 44 who have never worked, a figure that barely drops below 75,000 in two years. In January 2013, it exceeded 132,000.
The State Public Employment Service (SEPE) counts 74,362 people over 44 years old registered as job seekers who have never worked. The figure has remained stagnant around 75,000 over the last two years, according to data from the agency collected by Vozpópuli.
The group without prior employment was one of the hardest hit in July, when unemployment rose by 19,517 people to 2,311,499, the lowest figure for that month since 2007, according to the Government's note. The Executive attributed the increase of 8,268 people without prior work to the ongoing extraordinary regularisation process, which allows workers who were already in Spain without rights to access public employment offices.
Comparing with other age groups shows the weight of those over 44: it more than doubles the unemployed who are under 20 years old (32,779) and exceeds by more than 10,000 the job seekers aged between 30 and 44 years (63,656).
"The increase among people who had no prior work is fundamentally linked to the ongoing extraordinary regularisation process"
The historical series reflects that the problem has deep roots. In January 2013, when Spain had over six million unemployed, there were 132,234 people over 44 without prior employment registered at the then INEM. Five years ago, the figure approached 100,000, and since then it has decreased to the current level.
The SEPE mediated 319,700 contracts last year out of a total of 15.645 million signed in Spain, 1.7%. A report from the Adecco Foundation indicates that economic difficulties are pushing these previously inactive individuals to seek employment, and points to age as the main obstacle to entering the labour market. There is a subsidy for those over 52 who have lost their job, with family and economic conditions.
Other expert voices maintain that registration with the SEPE is a requirement to maintain benefits such as free public transport in the municipality of residence, discounts on cultural events, cinema, theatre or museums, and municipal leisure activities linked to training courses for employment.
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