Spain tops workplace productivity in Europe while unemployment rises

Euronews

28-04-2025

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New research conducted by Opinion Matters for workplace experience and digital services company Ricoh Europe has revealed that Spain has the highest workplace productivity in Europe. The study surveyed 1,800 decision-makers and 7,000 workers across Europe.
Italy came in at second place, followed by the Netherlands, France, Germany, UK and Ireland.
Some 92% of Spanish employees reported high productivity, with the country having an unproductivity rate of only 4%. In contrast, 9% of UK and Irish employees were likely to consider themselves unproductive.
Meanwhile, 22% of French business leaders and 27% of German business leaders also considered outdated technology as one of the key barriers to employee productivity.
Similarly, 40% of surveyed European employees said that better document management software, which helps better collaboration on digital documents, would help their productivity. Some 37% of employees cited collaboration and communication tools as being key to enhanced productivity, whereas 36% wanted better automation software.
Caroline Bright, chief strategy and commercial officer of Ricoh Europe, pointed out the importance of bridging the technology gap in the current uncertain economic climate, noting that 'the productivity gap across Europe should be a wake-up call for business leaders.'
She added: 'As workplace dynamics evolve and businesses renew their focus on the office, it's more important than ever to provide employees with the tools they need to operate and collaborate effectively.
'The good news is that the solutions are within reach. Those who act now to modernise their workplace technology will be best positioned to close the productivity gap and empower their teams to perform at their best and thrive in a competitive market.'
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However, despite this, the Spanish unemployment rate increased to 11.4% in the first quarter of this year, compared to 10.6% in the previous quarter, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). This was ahead of analyst expectations of 10.7%, while also being the highest number in a year.
The number of people without jobs rose by 193,700 to 2.8 million people in the first quarter of 2025, whereas employment dropped by 92,500 to 21.8 million. The working population also advanced by 101,200, touching 24.6 million.
In the first three months of the year, there were 116,500 more women without jobs, along with 77,200 more unemployed men.
The services sector lost 124,900 jobs, whereas 13,700 jobs were slashed in the construction sector. 21,100 industrial jobs were also reduced, along with 4,500 agricultural jobs.
Spain's rising unemployment could point towards the country's heavy dependence on cyclical industries such as hospitality and tourism, as well as lingering caution among employers due to ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.