Changes

One of the immediate effects of the health crisis on the labour market was that many people were unable to carry out the tasks they usually performed. Countless people saw their economic activity suspended by the economic shutdown following the state of alarm on 14 March, with exceptions only being made for activities that were considered ‘essential’. As restrictions were gradually loosened in May and June, some workers were able to return to work, yet many others were not. This second group included those whose companies made use of the exceptional measures put in place by the national government through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (agreed upon by employers and unions and approved in Parliament), which allowed employers to reduce working hours and even suspend contracts. Also in this group were those unable to return to work, either because the company could not withstand the temporary shutdown and folded or because the company adjusted its workforce once economy opened again, what made some employees redundant.

[[File:Spain_Registered-unemployment-by-sex-and-age-during-the-first-wave-of-the-pandemic_2019-2020_map_17838_eng.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Map: Registered unemployment by sex and age during the first wave of the pandemic. 2019-2020. Spain. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Spain_Registered-unemployment-by-sex-and-age-during-the-first-wave-of-the-pandemic_2019-2020_map_17838_eng.pdf PDF]. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Spain_Registered-unemployment-by-sex-and-age-during-the-first-wave-of-the-pandemic_2019-2020_map_17838_eng.zip Data]. ]]