Source: Xinhua| 2019-10-24 22:41:45|Editor: yan

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MADRID, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of people out of work in Spain fell by 16,200 in the third quarter of 2019, according to the Economically Active Population Survey (EPA) which was published by the Spanish Statistical Office (INE) on Thursday.

The fall means that 3.2 million people were out of work in Spain at the end of the quarter, with a 0.5-percent reduction in unemployment, taking the unemployment rate to 13.92 percent.

It was the first time that the unemployment rate has dropped below 14 percent in a decade.

Meanwhile the EPA shows that the period from July to September saw 69,400 people find jobs, with the total number of people in work rising to 19,874,300.

The acting Secretary of State for the Economy and Business Support, Ana de la Cueva, said the figures showed the Spanish labor market is more balanced and sustainable than 11 years ago and highlighted the fact that the number of people in work (19,874,300) is the highest seen over that period.

"We are seeing an Economically Active Population Survey in line with the maturity of the economic cycle and which is coherent with the Government's expectations for employment growth of 2.3 percent for this year. These figures help make that figure viable," she commented.

On Oct. 15, the Spanish government published its Budget Plan 2020 which envisages the economy will grow by 2.1 percent in 2019 and 1.8 percent in 2020 with the corresponding fall in the unemployment rate to 13.8 percent by the end of this year and 12.3 percent by the end of 2020.