Spanish Co-op Creates 1,346 Jobs, Hits €11.3B Revenue

While many companies announce layoffs, one Spanish business just created 1,346 new jobs and celebrated record-breaking growth.

MONDRAGON, a network of worker-owned cooperatives in Spain's Basque Country, closed 2025 with €11.322 billion in revenue and a workforce of 71,415 people. The cooperative added over 1,300 jobs in a single year, making it the largest employer in the Basque region and the fifth-largest private employer in all of Spain.

What makes MONDRAGON different? Every worker is also an owner with voting rights and profit-sharing benefits.

"Creating wealth through employment and profit sharing is one of the characteristics that distinguishes MONDRAGON," said President Pello Rodríguez. The cooperative model means success gets shared with everyone who helped create it, not just executives at the top.

The group invested €406 million in 2025 alone, a nearly 8% increase from the previous year. That money went toward developing new products, improving technology, and keeping businesses competitive in challenging global markets.

MONDRAGON also launched three new companies focused on future-facing industries. Orbik Cybersecurity will protect industrial systems from digital threats. Amets Power Electronics creates energy solutions for industrial use. Innkia develops artificial intelligence tools to help businesses work smarter.

The Ripple Effect

MONDRAGON's success radiates far beyond paychecks. The cooperative network donated more than €49 million in 2025 to nearly 1,000 community organizations working on social inclusion, poverty reduction, education, culture, and environmental projects.

Their retail arm, Eroski, crossed €6 billion in sales for the first time. The industrial division employed nearly 27,000 workers and sold 73% of its products internationally, bringing revenue back to Spanish communities.

The cooperative even helps vulnerable populations find stable work through employment integration programs. They support young people at risk of dropping out of school and help skilled trades pass knowledge to the next generation.

Early results from 2026 look promising too. Sales jumped 2.5% in the first four months compared to last year, and employment continues growing despite global economic uncertainty.

MONDRAGON proves that businesses can thrive while lifting up workers, families, and entire communities at the same time.