The Vallès Occidental region has recorded 446,580 jobs in the third quarter of 2026, according to the new Socioeconomic Flash published by the Observatory of the Consell Comarcal. This figure represents a 0.8% increase from the previous quarter and a 2.9% rise compared to the previous year. The year-on-year growth is mainly concentrated in salaried employment (+3%), while self-employment increased by 1.9%. The business fabric also shows a positive trend, with 26,031 companies, up 0.5% quarterly and 3% year-on-year.
Construction leads the quarterly employment increase with +2.4%, while the services sector contributes the majority of new jobs. Trade and manufacturing continue to be the most significant activities, and employment has increased in most municipalities within the region.
Regarding registered unemployment, at the end of the third quarter, there were 42,094 unemployed individuals, a 6% increase from June, but a 0.4% decrease compared to a year ago. The registered unemployment rate stands at 8.59%, slightly above the Catalan average (8.23%). Women account for a 10.36% unemployment rate, compared to 6.91% for men. Individuals aged 55 and over represent 34.7% of the unemployed, with a rate of 13.34%. Long-term unemployment constitutes 47.4% of the total.
During the third quarter, 71,493 contracts were formalized, a 5.1% increase from the previous year. The January-September cumulative total reaches 203,392 contracts, with a year-on-year increase of 3.9%. Indefinite contracts grew by 8.7% quarterly and 9.5% cumulatively, while temporary contracts advanced by 2.6% and 0.1% respectively. The proportion of temporary contracts stands at 57.5%, the lowest value in the historical series.
In terms of employment regulation, 18 employment regulation files (ERTEs) were registered in the third quarter, affecting 231 people, a 67.4% decrease from the previous quarter. Between January and September, 53 files have been accumulated, affecting 1,189 people, approximately 54% less than during the same period last year. The manufacturing industry accounts for 69.1% of individuals affected by these measures.
