Spain's unemployment rose by 11,900 people in the first quarter of the year according to data of the Inquest into the Active Population (EPA) released on Thursday by Spain's Statistical Office (INE).

The total number of unemployed people stood at 4,791,400 in the country, which meant a 12 percent fall year-on-year, 653,200 fewer unemployed people.

The INE reported that the country's unemployment rate rose to 21 percent, rising from the 20.9 percent of the last quarter of 2015, but falling from the 23.78 percent of the first quarter of 2015.

In the first quarter of the year there were 18,029,600 people working in Spain, while labor force continued to fall, decreasing by 52,700 people on a quarterly basis to 22,821,000.

Employment fell by 82,100 people in the private sector while increasing by 17,600 within the public sector. Employment also fell by 48,600 among women and by 15,900 among men.