European Semester 2025-2026 country fiche on disability equality – Spain

Abstract

[EN]The European Semester 2025–2026 country fiche on disability equality: Spain analyses the situation of persons with disabilities in Spain within the framework of the European Semester. It examines key developments, gaps and priorities in employment, social policy, healthcare, education, housing, accessibility and public investment. In the labour market, the report highlights that persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to employment, including higher unemployment, gender gaps, concentration in low-skilled jobs and increased risk of in-work poverty. Although recent legal reforms and measures linked to the Recovery and Resilience Plan represent progress, further action is needed to promote quality employment, supported employment, vocational training, microcredentials and better coordination among employment services. In the areas of social policy and healthcare, the report underlines the higher risk of poverty and social exclusion among persons with disabilities, as well as the need to strengthen social protection, independent living, deinstitutionalisation, community-based support and affordable housing. It also identifies unmet healthcare needs and territorial inequalities. In education, the report points to persistent early school leaving, barriers to inclusive education and mismatches between qualifications and labour market opportunities. Overall, the document recommends mainstreaming disability across European and national investment priorities, improving disaggregated disability data, reinforcing accessibility and ensuring the active participation of organisations of persons with disabilities in the design, implementation and monitoring of public policies.