The Canary Islands link two years of strong economic growth, leading in 2024 the increase in GDP at a national level and maintaining for 2025 a forecast of advance around 3.5%, with a positive path that will extend into 2026 although at a more moderate pace.
One of the clearest indicators of the good economic moment is the behavior of autonomous work. In February 146,701 workers on their own account were registered.
According to figures from the Government of the Canary Islands, 240 self-employed individuals per day are born in the archipelago. Furthermore, the Canary Islands closed the month of February with more self-employed individuals than unemployed, 146,701 compared to 145,656 people in unemployment.
One of the most notable data points at the start of this year is the boost in female entrepreneurship. The affiliation of self-employed women grew by 2.2% year-on-year in the Islands, compared to 1.6% for men. Currently, 55,284 women lead their own business.
The Government of the Canary Islands has reinforced its support for the self-employed collective in recent times, both in the initial phase of projects and in their consolidation. Among the most notable measures is the zero fee, an aid that subsidizes the contributions of those who register for the first time, and which has become a key tool to stimulate entrepreneurship in the islands.
In addition, the regional Executive has increased the resources of the General Directorate for Self-Employed Workers by almost 59%, which allows for the deployment of new lines such as the Concilia program, aimed at favoring family reconciliation for self-employed workers.
Also the interest bonus for loans intended for investments; the protection of the self-employed in situations of temporary incapacity; and the reinforcement of specific aid for new entrepreneurs.
To these actions is added the +uno52 program, which incentivizes the hiring of the first worker over 52 years old by self-employed individuals without staff, combining support for self-employment with job opportunities for people with more difficulties of insertion.