Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)OVER 30 per cent of the unemployed in Europe are in Spain.New figures show that Spain has a total of 17.9 per cent of its workforce out of work.
In total, there are nearly two million more unemployed now than there were in the same quarter in 2008.
The number of unemployed people rose by 126,700 to 4.14 million during April, May and June — taking the Spanish jobless rate to more than twice the EU average.
It is by far the continent’s unemployment blackspot.
It means that, compared with the same quarter in 2008, a further 1.76 million Spaniards have lost their jobs.
However, the figures were not quite as bad as some economists had expected, prompting speculation that Spain — whose economy has been rocked by a property crash — may be past the worst.
They had predicted the jobless rate to hit 18.5 per cent in the quarter and said the lower figure could suggest that the second phase of the Spanish government’s emergency €18 billion package to stimulate the economy, launched in May last year, might be working.
The proposals saw €10 billion worth of tax rebates for individuals and businesses last year and a further €8billion worth of measures, including tens of thousands of new infrastructure projects, this year.
Xavier Segura, analyst at Caixa Cataluna bank, said: “Although the rate of unemployment growth is still intense, we are seeing a significant slowdown. This could be due to seasonal factors such as the Easter holiday week having fallen in April this year and the Spanish government’s infrastructure investment plan.”
without sounding dumb, it would probably help spain if they put some kind of person in their supermarkets and superstores who smiled and helped people, instead of moaning every time a foreigner asks or wants something, they just seem to gawk at you as if your some kind of anima,l the female staff act like they are having yearly period pains, im really surprised this country doesn;t employ more foreign people instead of keeping it all for themselves, it must be the only european country that practices this.
Staff are paid little and the job is boring and monotonous; of course they will be be a bit grumpy – this is the same in the UK too of course.
However, Spain is in a league of its own for customer service lol. The supermarket is just one example; I have found just about all shops to have the most uninterested, rude, incompetant and inefficient staff imaginable, and this runs from floor worker right up to top management.
I recall recently changing a 5 euro item in Dunnes and having to see the Spanish store manager to get it “authorised”. Spain is a law unto itself – it needs a total re-education in conducting commerce and business. It’s quite laughable and one can only imagine what better business these shops would all do if they offered proper customer service.
I now annoy Dunnes by always paying for a 5 euro item with a 500 euro note and saying ‘tu problema’ when they complain. Great fun, try it when you’ve got a spare moment.
Remember, shop on the Internet and do not buy Spanish merchandise if you can help it – electrical goods and furniture can be bought up to 25-30%+ cheaper online! Delivery costs are irrelevant with these savings. Buy German if possible, and pay for an extended warranty. I have done this for items such as hoovers, fridges, TVs and even clothes – one gets next-day service from companies like Bosch and AEG. You get better service from companies who want your custom and know how to treat their customers well.
As there are more than 20 million people unemployed in the EU, I think your headline of 30% being from Spain is incorrect. Spain does have the highest rate in the EU, but the figure is closer to a fifth of the total or 20%. Still very high.
I agree with the comments by Fred and Franco. I live in Spain and when I explain this to my Spanish friends they do not understand.
One of my friend came here on holiday and he was surprised how staff in supermarkets and many stores act like they have permanent pains period.
Spain banks have huge bureaucracy and ineffciency, it is painful to deal with them in my town you can only do some operation like payments on the morning. Go figure !
inefficient management
poor customer services
lack of entrepreneurship
very little numbers of foreigners in Spanish companies
to the point that having a foreign boss or supervisor is considered “special”
Recently, I did read an article about poor customer services in the hotel-restaurant-bar sector in the Spanish newspaper Lavanguardia. So I guess, they are slowly waking up.
fred, what are the websites you use to buy your items in hitlerland, and other psuedo hitlerland locations……?
Use Google you noob. Hitlerland? Did you ever go to school? Maybe you still are at school?
Dear The Queen’s Own, I think it’s a bit harsh referring to Germany as Hitlerland. It’s a bit like referring to Italy as Mussoliniland or Mongolia as Ghengiskhanland or maybe even Britain as Olivercromwellland.
I sometimes use Sausageland as a term of endearment for Germany. Perhaps this may cause mild offence to some German people, but I doubt as much as referring to their country ass Hitlerland.
Or referring to spain as Francoland!!
they haved killed the golden goose and now they are suffering and wondering why. racism and xenophobia is their biggest problem. secondly all the town halls are corrupt also they have had thousands of people with their property fraud.. yes its legal ..no sorry its not, but thats after you have purchased. I dont think shop attitude is a problem as big as these and the whole of Europe is outside looking at them..Wake up Spain or you are a big loser in the end.
the figure is 30 per cent of the unemployed in mainland europe not including the UK, I think.