The Observatory-Studies Center of the Consell Comarcal reports that August 2026 has seen a new rise in unemployment in the Vallès Oriental. The region adds 836 more unemployed people than in July, bringing the total to 17,903. The month-on-month increase is 4.9%, almost double the 2% recorded the previous month.
This marks the third consecutive month of rising unemployment. Although August is typically a month of increase, this year's rise has been more intense than in recent years. In August 2024, unemployment grew by 3.5% (+661 people) and in August 2025, also by 3.5% (+619 people). One must go back to 2009 to find a higher increase in an August month.
Despite this increase, regional unemployment remains at historically low levels. To find an August with fewer unemployed, one must go back to August 2007 (15,176 people). The year-on-year downward trend continues: compared to August 2025, there are 303 fewer unemployed people, a decrease of 1.66%. The provisional unemployment rate stands at 7.83%.
Unemployment is rising in almost all municipalities, except in Campins, where it remains stable. In absolute terms, the increases in Mollet del Vallès (+148 people; +6.5%) and Granollers (+106 people; +3.8%) stand out.
Compared to August 2025, unemployment has decreased in 18 municipalities, remains stable in Santa Maria de Palautordera, and has increased in 19. The most notable decreases are in Parets del Vallès (-82 people), Montmeló (-68 people), and Lliçà d’Amunt (-45 people). The largest increases are recorded in La Llagosta (+37 people) and La Roca del Vallès (+18 people).
In Catalonia, registered unemployment reached 329,468 people at the end of August, 4.6% more than in July. This year's increase is significantly higher than in recent years.
The absolute increase is 14,594 people. This trend coincides with the incorporation of foreign population following the regularization process completed on June 30, 2026. While in August 2025 foreign unemployment decreased by 546 people, this year it has increased by 4,801, of which 4,642 are non-EU citizens.
These figures suggest that the regularization process may be contributing to the rise in registered unemployment, both in Catalonia and the Vallès Oriental.
