Decomposition of unemployment in Spain 1980-2019: Evolution of structural unemployment

J. Miguel Calero; Raymond Lagonigro; Rafa Madariaga

doi:10.2478/lel-2026-0002

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Decomposition of unemployment in Spain 1980-2019: Evolution of structural unemployment

Labour Economics Letters

Volume 2 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)

By: J. Miguel Calero , Raymond Lagonigro and Rafa Madariaga

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Abstract

This paper provides an estimation of the structural component of the Spain's persistently high unemployment over 1980-2019. Using an innovative approach, unemployment is decomposed into frictional, structural, and cyclical components. Frictional unemployment is estimated through stochastic frontier analysis, while regression techniques and time series filters determine structural and cyclical components. The methodology overcomes limited long-term data by standardizing job vacancies and projecting employment trends backward. Findings reveal structural unemployment as the dominant factor, shedding light on Spain's chronic unemployment challenges and providing a foundation for further exploration of underlying causes.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lel-2026-0002 | Journal eISSN: 3071-8317

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Language: English

Page range: 9 - 20

Published on: Jun 11, 2026

Published by: Asociacion Española de Economia del Trabajo

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Keywords:

structural unemployment,

frictional unemployment,

cyclical unemployment,

vacancies

Related subjects:

Business and economics,

Mathematics and statistics for economists,

Econometrics

© 2026 J. Miguel Calero, Raymond Lagonigro, Rafa Madariaga, published by Asociacion Española de Economia del Trabajo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.

Volume 2 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)