The Department of Economy, Employment and Employment presents a 3.3% increase in the 2026 budget

On Monday, the Department of Economy, Labour and Employment of theBasque Government presented its draft budget for 2026, which amounts to €1,266.2 millionfor the following year, an increaseof 3.3% over the previous year.

"These budgets reflect the progressive footprint of the Basque Government (...) We are committed to an economy of growth that leaves no one behind and places people at the centre of public policies," said Vice President and Counsellor for Economy, Employment and Employment, Mikel Torres.

As explained by the Department itself, this increase in the budget will strengthen the "commitments" made to the Department and enable "progress in the defence of social justice, the reduction of inequalities and the redistribution of wealth".

These budgets will focus primarily onstrengthening active employment policies , in particular training, recruitment and support for vulnerable groups .

To this end, Lanbide will be the "key element"of these policies, since it will manage EUR 516 million, and EUR 688 million will be allocated to the Income Guarantee Income (RGI), the Minimum Living Income  (HDI) and the Supplementary Housing Benefit (PCV).

"Lanbide has become a central element of active employment policies, paying particular attention to young people, women, the elderly and vulnerable groups," Torres said.

In addition, the new budget will increase the subsidy linefor municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants to draw up employment and local development plans.

This item will therefore go from EUR 1.2 million in 2025 to EUR 5.4 millionin 2026.

"We want municipalities to play a leading role in creating employment opportunities and in the economic development of municipalities," explains Mikel Torres.

The Department of Economy, Labour and Employment also wishes to strengthen its commitment to equality between men and womenin the labour market.