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Diari de Catalunya

The Face of Unemployment in Lleida: Women Over 45 with Low Education and Long-Term Joblessness

The Observatori del Treball reveals that six out of ten unemployed individuals in the region are women, often with primary education and over a year seeking employment.

Generic image of resumes on a desk, symbolizing job search.
IA

Generic image of resumes on a desk, symbolizing job search.

The predominant profile of unemployed individuals in the province of Lleida is that of a woman over 45 years old, with a low educational level and who has been seeking employment for over a year, according to recent data from the Observatori del Treball.

The latest bulletin from the Observatori del Treball, with data closed as of March this year, places the total number of unemployed in the demarcation above 15,600. In the regions of Ponent, six out of ten people actively seeking employment are women, a proportion that remains stable compared to previous years.
This situation reflects structural precariousness in more feminized sectors, such as services or care, where temporality and part-time work predominate. Furthermore, ageism is a determining factor, as more than half of the unemployed in the plain regions, 53%, are over 45 years old, a figure that rises to 59% in Alt Pirineu and Aran.
Another key characteristic is the low educational level. A large proportion of the unemployed, 79% in the plain regions and 66% in Alt Pirineu and Aran, only have primary education or compulsory secondary education. This lack of training limits access to more stable and qualified jobs, contributing to half of the unemployed having spent more than 12 months looking for work unsuccessfully.
Despite structural unemployment, many companies report difficulties in finding staff. This highlights a mismatch between supply and demand, exacerbated by labor segregation. Female demand is mainly concentrated in the service sector, while sectors with high labor demand, such as construction or transport, are traditionally masculinized. Promoting the presence of women in strategic sectors is crucial to reducing gender inequality.
Regarding union representation, by the end of 2025, UGT was the union with the most delegates in the Lleida demarcation, with 50.2% of the total, followed by CCOO with 38.52%. UGT predominates in private companies and regional administration, while CCOO does so in public companies, local administration, and universities. Among civil servants, CCOO has more influence.
Today, UGT and CCOO are celebrating Workers' Day in Lleida with a joint march advocating for peace, decent wages, and affordable housing, starting at Plaça del Treball and ending at Plaça de la Paeria. In parallel, CGT and CNT have organized their own protest in defense of labor rights and reduced working hours, which will begin at Plaça del Treball and conclude at Plaça Sant Joan.

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