The city has achieved its best historical data, boasting an unemployment rate below 10%, a significant improvement of almost 20 points compared to 2012, despite the population growth during this period. Estepona continues to excel in job creation, standing out as one of the three municipalities in Andalusia with over 40,000 residents and the lowest unemployment rate at 9.99%. This positive trend reflects a substantial decrease in unemployment since 2011, when the rate peaked at 28.45%. The success can be attributed to effective municipal policies and measures implemented by the City Council, leading to a strong economic revival and a robust local labor market. Starting 2026 with record employment data, Estepona is also witnessing growth in affiliation and entrepreneurship, solidifying its position in the Andalusian region. The city has recorded the lowest unemployment rates since 2008, coupled with impressive affiliation figures, reaching nearly 25,000 in January alone, marking a 46.6% increase from 2011. Furthermore, Estepona is becoming a hub for entrepreneurship, with a notable rise in self-employed individuals, seeing a 5% growth in the past year to 6,891 self-employed workers in January. This marks a 45% increase in self-employed affiliation since 2011. These statistics showcase Estepona’s ability to generate stable and high-quality employment. Mayor José María García Urbano sees these figures as a source of motivation to further strengthen the municipal project initiated in 2011, which has played a pivotal role in Estepona’s significant transformation and economic recovery, as evidenced by the employment data.