The self-employed in the Balearic Islands recorded the highest growth in Spain during the month of May. The archipelago added 2,361 new members of the Special Scheme for Self-Employed Workers (RETA), an increase of 2.2% that multiplies the national average by five, which stood at 0.4%.

self-employed in the Balearic Islands

According to data published by the National Federation of Self-Employed Workers’ Associations (ATA), the number of RETA members in the Balearic Islands rose from 105,972 to 108,334 between April and May 2026, making it the autonomous community where self-employment grew the most over the past month.

One in six new self-employed workers in Spain registered in the Balearic Islands

In May, Spain registered 15,470 new self-employed workers. Of these, 2,361 were in the Balearic Islands, which accounted for more than 15% of all new registrations nationwide.

In practical terms, one in six new self-employed workers in Spain registered in the islands over the past month, a particularly significant figure considering that the Balearic Islands represent approximately 2.5% of the national population.

This growth coincides with the start of the tourist season and reflects the dynamism of sectors such as hospitality, retail, services and other activities closely linked to tourism, according to the Balearic Government in a statement.

Self-employed workers in the Balearic Islands also grow above the annual average

The evolution of the self-employed in the Balearic Islands is also positive when analysing the year-on-year figures. Between May 2025 and May 2026, the archipelago rose from 106,137 to 108,334 RETA members, representing an increase of 2,197 self-employed workers.

This growth of 2.1% is the second highest in Spain, behind only the Valencian Community, and is well above the national average of 1.3%.

Across the country as a whole, the number of self-employed workers increased by 45,850 people over the past year, rising from 3,414,593 to 3,460,443 members.