Unemployment falls in May 2011

The number of registered unemployed citizens of the Canary Islands employment offices fell by 2,432 people in May 2011 (-0.95%), bringing the total number of unemployed down to 254,341. According to the Ministry of Labour in Spain, as a whole, unemployment fell in May by 79,701 people, (-1.87%), bringing the overall number of unemployed to 4,189,659 people. Comparing to figures in May 2010, unemployment fell by 11,575 people in the Canary Islands, a drop of -4.35%. By provinces, unemployment went down in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by 1,623 people (-1.37%) and in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, by 809 people (-0.59%). Of the 254,341 unemployed in the Canaries, 125,221 are men and 129,120 are women. The number of contracts rose in May 2011 to 48,517 which is 3,443 more than in the previous month.