In the first quarter, the number of workers rose 1.3% compared to the same period last year and 0.7% year-on-year to 758,889, according to the statistical summary of the Directorate-General for Public Administration and Employment (DGAEP).

The growth in the number of employees was mainly due to the increase in hiring of senior technicians and technical assistants for city halls, teachers, nurses and diagnostic and therapy technicians, according to a report by ECO.

“In the first quarter of 2025, employment in the public administration sector stood at 758,889 jobs, which represented an increase of 1.3%”, that is, “9,852 more jobs, in year-on-year terms”, reads the DGAEP report. In the chain variation, that is, in relation to the last quarter of last year, there was more moderate growth in hiring, of 0.7%, which represents 5,337 more jobs. Compared to December 31, 2011, the beginning of the statistical series, there was an increase of 4.3%, which corresponds to 31,188 more jobs.

In annual terms, the 1.3% variation was mainly due to the central administration, where there was a 1.2% increase in jobs, which means 6,521 more civil servants, and to local administration, where hiring increased by 3.4%, which corresponds to 4,569 more jobs.

“In central administration, the increase in relation to the same period last year originated fundamentally in the government areas of Education, Science and Innovation and Health”, according to the statistical summary. Specifically, there was an “increase in the number of kindergarten teachers and primary and secondary school teachers”, with an increase of 926 jobs, and of operational assistants, with 832 more hires. The DGAEP report highlights that “in these careers the increase resulted mainly from the signing of indefinite-term contracts”. The number of higher education teachers has also increased. There are now 768 more university professors, but in this case, the contracts are mainly temporary.

In health, the DGAEP shows an increase of 2,599 public employees, essentially in nursing careers, where there was a growth of 1,005 jobs, diagnostic and therapeutic technicians, with 594 more workers, and technical assistants, with the integration of 430 more employees, mainly in entities of the State Business sector, that is, EPE hospitals.

“In local administration, the year-on-year increase originated, to a large extent, in municipal councils”, highlights the statistical summary. A further 3,714 workers were hired in the first quarter, of which 1,999 were senior technicians and 831 were technical assistants.

In relation to the previous quarter, there was an increase of 5,337 jobs, which means a variation of 0.7%, “mainly due to the increase in central administration, with 4,272 more jobs and in local administration, with 1,175 more employees.

This growth in chain employment was mainly due to the temporary hiring of 1,389 more doctors, who began their internships, 1,108 senior technicians and 820 kindergarten teachers and primary and secondary school teachers. “In the opposite direction, employment in the Armed Forces decreased, with 392 fewer jobs registered compared to December 31, 2024”, highlights the report.

In local administration, the increase in relation to the previous quarter occurred in various types of entities, with emphasis on city halls, which hired 888 more workers, most of them in the senior technical career, and parish councils, which hired 230 operational assistants, above all, “in both cases, mainly indefinite-term contracts”, according to the summary.