Profile of PSOE voters: most don't work, are pensioners, and remain loyal to Pedro Sánchez

The typical Socialist Party voter is mostly not employed, is a pensioner, and shows strong loyalty to Pedro Sánchez.

The electorate of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) has a distinctive profile according to data from the Center for Sociological Research (CIS). A recent analysis reveals that most of its voters are not in active employment, with pensioners making up a significant segment. Moreover, this electoral base demonstrates remarkable loyalty to the party and its leader, **Pedro Sánchez**.

## The profile of the Socialist voter: beyond employment

One of the most striking findings from the latest CIS barometer, directed by **José Félix Tezanos**, is that the PSOE is one of the parties where the majority of its voters do not work. Specifically, in **2023**, only **45.5%** of those who chose the Socialist ballot were employed. This contrasts with the general trend of other parties in the Congress of Deputies, whose voters are mostly in active employment.

Pensioners represent a significant portion of the Socialist electorate. **35.4%** of PSOE voters are pensioners, making it the second party, after Junts, that attracts this demographic group the most. Breaking down this figure, **30.8%** of Socialist voters are retirees, while **4.8%** are pensioners who have no prior work experience. This demographic composition seems to explain the attention **Sánchez** pays to this group in his political messages.

In contrast, voters of the People's Party (PP) show a higher proportion of workers, with **56.4%** in active employment. **28.8%** of PP voters are pensioners, of whom **26.4%** are retirees and **2.4%** receive a pension without having worked. In the case of Vox, the percentage of pensioner voters drops to **23.2%**, the vast majority being retirees.

## Unemployment and other realities of the Socialist voter

The PSOE's voter spectrum also includes people who are unemployed. **10.1%** of those who voted for **Sánchez** in **2023** were unemployed. This percentage is higher than that recorded for the PP (**6.9%**) and Vox (**9.2%**). In contrast, the percentage of students among Socialist voters is low, barely **1.5%**, a figure similar to that of the PP (**1.7%**) and Vox (**1.4%**).

Furthermore, **4.8%** of PSOE voters perform unpaid domestic work, and **2.7%** are in other unspecified situations. These data paint a portrait of the Socialist voter that goes beyond simple political affiliation, encompassing diverse socioeconomic realities.

## Loyalty to Pedro Sánchez: a pillar of the PSOE

The loyalty of the Socialist voter is another aspect highlighted by the polls. PSOE voters are the most likely to always vote for the same party. The CIS question on voting habits reveals that among those who supported the PSOE in **2023**, **60.5%** declare themselves habitual voters. Of this percentage, **30.2%** always vote for the same party, and **30.3%** usually vote for the same political formation.

This loyalty contrasts with that of other major parties. In the PP, only **35.5%** of voters in **2023** always or almost always vote for the same party, while **62.6%** choose their vote according to circumstances. In Vox, loyalty is even lower, with **21.8%** habitual voters versus **76%** who adapt their vote. Sumar has **46%** loyal voters and **53.7%** who change their vote.

Outside the major parties, only EH Bildu and the PNV register higher loyalty than the PSOE, with percentages of **68%** and **83.2%** respectively. Coalición Canaria also slightly surpasses the PSOE with **67.2%** loyalty. This high rate of recurring voters partly explains the **PSOE**'s resistance to political crises and scandals.

## Resilience in the face of adversity

The strength of the Socialist electorate appears to be a key factor in **Pedro Sánchez**'s stay in the presidency. Despite judicial scandals and political tensions, the voter base remains relatively stable. An example of this resilience was observed after the appearance of a Civil Guard report that implicated **Santos Cerdán** in an alleged case of commission payments. At that time, the PSOE experienced an electoral drop, falling below **100 seats** in some polls. However, the subsequent recovery, reaching **113 seats** and **27%** of voting intention in May **2026**, demonstrates the party's ability to bounce back.

The handling of crises such as the one in Ceuta, whose polling effects are yet to be evaluated, appears not to have significantly eroded support. The loyalty of the Socialist voter, combined with a communication strategy focused on key groups such as pensioners, seems to shield the **PSOE** from political turbulence, suggesting a strategy of continuity for **Pedro Sánchez**.