With its varied landscape, temperatures, and cultural attractions, Spain is an attractive place to work and live. However, unemployment rates are high, particularly among young people, and the country is governed by strict protected labor laws. This article lays out some of the considerations to make when growing your business in Spain.
The market at a glance
Size of workforce
Those who work for pay or profit for at least one hour a week, or who have a job but are temporarily not at work due to illness, leave or industrial action
22.8m
people
Employment rate
The ratio of the employed to the working age
63.1%
Education rate
% of population (25-44 yrs old) with tertiary graduation rates
42.6%
Cost of labor
Average wages
$38,761
English proficiency index (World)
The world's largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills
#32/88
Moderate proficiency
English proficiency index (Europe)
Europe's largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills
#21/27
Moderate proficiency
Finding the right talent
The Public State Employment Service (Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal) or SEPE is a good place to start searching for talent, and jobs can be posted on Empleate, a government job portal, or Infojobs, a popular online job portal. Recruitment agencies usually only deal with temporary jobs, although Adecco can also be used to hire permanent workers.
Things to keep in mind
With a youth unemployment rate that’s relatively high compared to other EU countries, it’s common for educated young people to move abroad, so it may be tough to compete for skilled talent. While the average number of working hours per week is 40, it can be common for people to take long lunch breaks between 2pm and 4-5pm. Many shops are closed during the break time.
Time is not as strictly observed in Spain as it may be in other European countries, and it's not uncommon for meetings or other professional occasions to run behind schedule.
Sources:
- Total 2017 Labour force
- % of working age population
- % of population (25-44 yrs old) with tertiary graduation rates
- Average wage
- English proficiency index