MADRID, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of people out of work in Spain rose by 29,400 in the first quarter of the year to a total of 3.8 million, according to Inquest into the Active Population (EPA) data published on Thursday by Spain's Statistical Office (INE).
This meant a 0.78 percent rise compared with the fourth quarter of 2017, bringing Spain's unemployment rate to 16.74 percent in the first quarter of the year.
The number of unemployed women rose by 9,300 to a total of 1.95 million and the number of unemployed men rose by 20,100 to 1.84 million, the INE said.
On a yearly basis, the country's unemployment fell by 458,900 people, a 10.79 percent fall over the same period of a year earlier.
Spain's Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro said the figures showed the Spanish economy was on the "right path" towards solving one of the main problems caused by the economic crisis: a high unemployment rate.
He highlighted the importance of job creation, pointing to INE data which showed a total of 436,000 new jobs had been created. The minister said the 2018 general state budget, which is currently being discussed at the Spanish parliament, will contribute to creation of 500,000 new jobs this year.
