Unemployment in Spain is now 11.3% - a 12-year high.
The Ministry of Labour says it is the highest level in Europe. European Union statistics put the jobless figure even higher at 11.9%.
As recession looms, the number claiming unemployment benefit rose by 192,658 to 2,818,026 - the highest level since April 1996.
A severe slowdown in the construction industry is one of the the main causes of the economic slowdown.
Recent figures showed that the economy contracted by 0.2% in the third quarter compared to the previous three-month period.
Since October 2007, the number of those claiming jobless benefits has risen 37.5%.
On Monday, the government issued a plan to help unemployed people who have difficulty keeping up with mortgage payments.
