Although the general unemployment rate in Catalonia has significantly decreased over the past decade, the proportion of people remaining jobless for a year or more has increased. In the Girona regions, this trend shows significant variations between territories. La Selva stands out as the only region in the province that surpasses the Catalan average in both long-term unemployment (between one and two years seeking work) and very long-term unemployment (over two years).
Data from 2024 indicate that in Catalonia, the long-term unemployment rate stands at 3%, and very long-term unemployment at 1.9%. In La Selva, these figures rise to 3.2% and 2% respectively, slightly exceeding the national average. The total unemployment in the region is 6.1%, lower than the Catalan 6.3%.
This situation reveals that the main challenge for La Selva is not so much the overall volume of unemployment, but rather the difficulty some unemployed individuals face in re-entering the labor market. It is estimated that 52.5% of the region's unemployment is long-term, a proportion almost five points higher than the Catalan average, positioning La Selva as the seventh region in the country with the highest proportion of prolonged unemployment.
Other regions in Girona show better indicators. Alt Empordà records 2.8% long-term unemployment and 1.8% very long-term unemployment, with a total unemployment rate of 5.7%. However, 49.1% of its unemployment is long-term, above the Catalan 47.6%.
Baix Empordà and Ripollès show total unemployment rates of 4.8% and 5.1% respectively, with long-term unemployment percentages of 2.3% and 2.4%. In these regions, the weight of prolonged unemployment is around 48% and 47%.
Gironès presents a total unemployment rate of 6.1%, similar to the Catalan average, but with better duration figures: 2.7% long-term and 1.6% very long-term.
Cerdanya is positioned as the region with the best situation, with a total unemployment rate of 3.2% and long-term rates of 1.1% and very long-term of 0.6%. Only 34% of its unemployed have been seeking work for a year or more.
Pla de l'Estany and Garrotxa also report favorable data, with total unemployment rates of 4.6% and 4.9% respectively, and a proportion of prolonged unemployment below 43%.
