STORY: Spanish employers group concerns over "loss of dynamism" in job creation
DATELINE: Sept. 8, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:43
LOCATION: Madrid
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of streets view of Spain
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): ROSA SANTOS, Director of Employment, Diversity and Social Protection of the CEOE
3. various of streets view of Spain
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): ROSA SANTOS, Director of Employment, Diversity and Social Protection of the CEOE

STORYLINE:

Spain's main employers' group, the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), has expressed concern over the "loss of dynamism" in job creation in August, which could worsen in the autumn. The number of new jobs fell by 185,385 and the number of unemployed rose by 24,826 in August, the first increase since February.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): ROSA SANTOS, Director of Employment, Diversity and Social Protection of the CEOE
"In short, this greater drop in new employment confirms the loss of dynamism in job creation that we had been warning about in previous months."

Spain has the highest unemployment rate in the EU at 11.7 percent, far above the EU average of 5.9 percent. The CEOE blamed uncertainty for holding back investment decisions by companies that could create and maintain jobs.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): ROSA SANTOS, Director of Employment, Diversity and Social Protection of the CEOE
"Uncertainty is preventing investment decisions by companies that allow for the maintenance and, above all, the creation of jobs, and it's clear, according to all indicators, that the figures could get worse in the autumn."

The decline in new jobs in August was similar to last year, but much higher than before the pandemic. The government's data also showed signs of a slowdown in July, with fewer new jobs in construction and self-employment.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Madrid.
(XHTV)