Lanzarote sees biggest fall in unemployment in the Canary Islands in August
Lanzarote has recorded the strongest monthly fall in registered unemployment of any Canary Island, with 61 fewer people on the unemployment register during August.
The latest employment figures provide some encouraging news for the Lanzarote economy, as the number of registered unemployed on the island fell by 0.9% between July and August 2026.
There were 6,956 people registered as unemployed in Lanzarote at the end of August, 61 fewer than the previous month and 121 fewer than in August 2025, representing a year-on-year reduction of 1.7%.
Lanzarote outperforms the other islands
The August figures are particularly notable because unemployment did not fall across most of the Canary Islands.
Lanzarote recorded the largest percentage decrease, while Fuerteventura was the only other island to see a reduction, with registered unemployment falling by 0.8%.
Elsewhere, unemployment increased in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, while Gran Canaria recorded virtually no monthly change.
Across the Canary Islands as a whole, 144,459 people were registered as unemployed in August. That was 291 more than in July, although the figure was 5,756 lower than a year earlier, representing an annual improvement of 3.8%.
For Lanzarote, therefore, the August figures stand out against what was generally a more difficult month for employment elsewhere in the archipelago.
Arrecife accounts for the largest number of unemployed
As might be expected given its population, Arrecife has the largest number of registered unemployed on Lanzarote, with 3,480 people.
However, unemployment in the island’s capital also moved in the right direction, falling by 1.6% compared with July and by 0.8% compared with August 2025.
Teguise also recorded a reduction, with 834 people registered as unemployed, down 1.3% on the previous month and 2.2% year-on-year.
The picture was less positive in every municipality, however.
Tías saw registered unemployment increase slightly by 0.9% during August to 706 people, although it remains 4.9% below its level of a year ago.
Tinajo recorded the largest monthly increase, rising by 8.7% to 274 unemployed people. Despite that increase, its annual figure remains 5.5% lower than in August 2025.
Haría recorded 275 unemployed people after a monthly fall of 2.1%, while Yaiza’s figure fell by 1.2% to 559.
Women and older workers continue to account for the largest share
The figures also highlight an ongoing difference between men and women in the Lanzarote employment market.
Of the island’s 6,956 registered unemployed people, 3,991 are women compared with 2,965 men.
Male unemployment fell by 1.2% during August and 1.5% over the year. Female unemployment also declined, although by a smaller 0.6% during the month and 1.9% compared with August 2025.
Age is another important factor.
People aged over 45 account for the largest group of unemployed residents, with 4,071 registered unemployed. Encouragingly, this group saw a 3.9% reduction compared with the same month last year.
There were 2,522 unemployed people aged between 25 and 45, while the under-25 group stood at 363. Youth unemployment did, however, rise by 2.5% during August, despite remaining below its level a year earlier.
Services and hospitality remain central to the local jobs market
The figures underline just how closely employment in Lanzarote is linked to the island’s service-based economy.
Services account for around 47% of registered unemployment, followed by hospitality at 25% and retail at 17%. Construction represents around 7%, with industry accounting for approximately 3%.
That makes the island’s employment figures particularly relevant to both residents and the thousands of businesses that depend on tourism in Lanzarote.
August is traditionally an important month for tourism, hospitality, restaurants, accommodation and retail, so the fall in registered unemployment provides an interesting snapshot of the local labour market during the peak summer period.
More contracts than a year ago
There is another positive element hidden within the August figures.
Lanzarote recorded 5,064 new employment contracts during August. Although that was 21.3% fewer than in July, it was actually 3.5% higher than in August 2025.
That monthly fall needs to be viewed in context rather than automatically interpreted as a deterioration. Employment figures can move considerably from one month to another, particularly on an island where tourism and seasonal activity play such an important role.
What does it mean for Lanzarote?
The latest figures don’t mean that unemployment has disappeared as an issue for the island, and thousands of residents remain registered as unemployed.
They do, however, provide a positive August snapshot for the Lanzarote economy.
With registered unemployment falling both monthly and annually, and employment contracts higher than they were a year ago, the latest figures suggest that the island’s labour market continues to show resilience.
For residents looking for work, businesses recruiting staff and people considering a move to the island, Lanzarote jobs and employment opportunities remain closely connected to tourism, hospitality, retail and the wider service sector.
And with Lanzarote recording the largest monthly fall in registered unemployment anywhere in the Canary Islands in August, there is certainly some good news in the latest numbers.
