The Lanzarote Business Confederation (CEL) takes stock of the 2025 economic year on the island and focuses on the need for public policies that drive investment, diversification, and productivity in 2026. "Only in this way can the economic growth of Lanzarote, achieved thanks to the daily efforts of businesses, especially SMEs and the self-employed, be sustained," states president Beatriz Salazar.
The CEL details that 2025 has been a year marked by sustained growth in activity, good tourism performance, and improvement in key labor indicators, although also by the persistence of structural challenges that require decisive political responses.
However, and despite the very positive economic data, the president of the CEL, Beatriz Salazar, highlights the importance of "not being complacent and continuing to work on improving competitiveness, productivity, the stability of the business fabric, and the defense of the Canary Islands' special economic regime, especially in a context marked by international uncertainty and the structural challenges of the economy".
The president assures that "2026 will be a decisive year for the execution of Next Generation funds, as it is the last fiscal year of the current framework and comes after low execution levels, which forces us to accelerate projects and urgently improve management capacity." This challenge is also faced in a complex context, marked by geopolitical uncertainty, the absence of budgets, and an institutional scenario that limits medium-term planning. "Without a doubt, the lack of certainty hinders business decision-making and delays necessary investments to advance the diversification of the economy."
"Added to this is the evolution of inflation, which, although it shows moderation compared to previous stages, remains a factor to monitor due to its impact on business costs and consumption," Salazar adds.
Likewise, he insists that Lanzarote's economic future depends on strengthening public-private collaboration as a key tool for driving strategic projects in areas such as housing, energy, training, and innovation.
Once again, Salazar demands the simplification of administrative processes and greater support for entrepreneurship programs. "Lanzarote's economic future depends on entrepreneurs and the self-employed being able to carry out their activities without obstacles, with legal certainty and access to financing," he maintains.
Regarding the 2025 results, Beatriz Salazar recalls that Lanzarote's labor market has consolidated positive evolution in 2025, with a significant reduction in unemployment and an increase in employment, in line with the improvement in economic activity. According to the latest data available from ISTAC, the number of unemployed people on the island stands at 6,924, representing a relevant year-on-year decrease and keeping unemployment at historically low levels for LanzaroteMeanwhile, Social Security affiliation in Lanzarote has continued to grow throughout the year, exceeding 76,000 registered workers, reflecting the island's business fabric's capacity to generate employment even in a context of economic uncertainty.In this context, he indicates that "employment evolution in 2025 is positive and demonstrates the strength of our companies, but we cannot be complacent: the challenge now is to consolidate stable, quality employment, reducing temporary contracts and improving productivity."
Salazar also **focuses on the creation and consolidation of SMEs**, stating that "small and medium-sized enterprises are the true engine of employment in Lanzarote." "Every new SME created on the island is an opportunity to diversify the economy and secure local employment, which is why it is essential to facilitate their birth and growth," he assures.
Tourism has once again become the main economic driver for Lanzarote in 2025, with a particular highlight being the increase in tourist spending per visitor, placing the island among those with the highest profitability from its tourism activities in the Canary IslandsFor Beatriz Salazar, "tourism's behavior is very positive but must be accompanied by investments in infrastructure, connectivity, training, and sustainability so that its benefits are transferred to the entire economy and local employment."In addition, he insists on the need to "continue diversifying markets and tourist products, avoiding excessive dependence on a single sector and strengthening complementary activities that generate greater value on the island."Regarding housing, Salazar expresses his **concern stemming from the scarcity of residential supply and the growth of other uses in 2025**, which hinders access to housing for workers and families. On this point, he calls for a reformulation of national policies in this area, so as to eliminate the legal uncertainty faced by owners of potential rental properties.Finally, it reiterates CEL's commitment "to continue being an active and constructive interlocutor, working alongside public administrations, with the aim of guaranteeing sustainable economic development that generates quality employment, fosters entrepreneurship, and promotes social well-being for the island."