SPAIN – Data for the second quarter of 2014 published on 24 July by the Labour Force Survey (EPA)

represent a positive turn for employment in the wood and furniture industry, with an increase of 1.9% new jobs. The wood and furniture sector employs 128,200 workers, compared with 125,800 in the first quarter.

Regarding the different subsectors, the furniture sector in the second quarter gained 1,900 new employees, representing an increase of 2.5%, all other wood subsectors added 500 jobs, up 1%.

The furniture activity has 77,500 people employed and the other wood subsectors 50,700. In the second quarter, the sector has gained 2,400 total employees.

Compared to the same period last year (second quarter 2013), the number of workers in the wood and furniture industry as a whole has lost 1,700 jobs, representing a decrease of 1.3%. 

According Antonio Baixauli, President of CONFEMADERA HABITAT, “These results represent a respite for employment in the sector, but we have to wait for this upward trend to consolidate. Lets not forget – continues Baixauli – that we are still far from recovering the number of workers that the wood and furniture industry had before the crisis.”