Work in Spain

Spain is one of the most popular EU countries for relocation to for citizens of all other European countries and there are already 900,000 Brits living in Spain alone!  Of those who move to Spain a large percentage are well under retirement age and move to work in Spain.

If you’re considering making a new life abroad and would like to find work in Spain this article offers you an overview of the Spanish employment market and how to go about securing yourself a job in Spain.

First things first it’s important to know that Spain has quite a high unemployment rate particularly in the south of the country.  The previous and current governments have both worked very hard to reduce overall unemployment and it has dropped to around 10.4% in 2005, but the issue remains one of contention across Spain and employers do tend to favour if not Spanish nationals then those with a very good understanding and grasp of the Spanish language.

Spain is also suffering economically from a reduction in overall foreign direct investment as many companies can now access other European countries with lower labour, taxation and overall operational costs.  That said, the Spanish economy is growing despite this fact and despite an overall stagnation across the Euro Zone.

The majority of professional based employment opportunities exist in the more industrialised Northern Spain.  Southern Spain is mainly given over to agriculture and tourism.  If you have a particular profession in mind and would like to find a particular job in Spain you will need to ensure your qualifications translate to Spanish equivalents and you will of course need to speak Spanish! 

Those looking for temporary or seasonal work in Spain or looking for employment opportunities other than in a given profession such as law, banking, accountancy, teaching, nursing etc., should know that it is far easier to get any job in Spain with an understanding of Spanish but if you can only speak English you should consider heading for the main resort areas or you should consider getting some TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) qualifications.

If you come from another EU country you can live in Spain for up to 90 days without any requirement for visas and permits.  If you intend to live in Spain more permanently and if you want to work in Spain you will first need to apply for a residence card or visado de residencia.  You can either get this from your local Spanish embassy before you go or you can apply to a local police station once you move to Spain.  If you’re considering starting your own business in Spain you’ll also need a tarjeta comunitaria and a licencia fiscal in order to operate.

You can look for work in Spain before you even move abroad by using general online job sites such as Monster and JobServe or specific recruitment companies like Adecco or Select.  When you’re established in Spain you’ll soon hear about job openings from fellow expatriates and you’ll be able to use the local newspapers and job centres to source employment.  If you work in a specific profession you can write to potential employers with your CV, a covering letter and copies of qualifications and ask about suitable openings.  Be sure to give all your contact details and follow up on the letter with a telephone call or a face to face visit.

Remember that the one fundamental advantage you will have over and above anyone else if you’re looking for work in Spain is the ability to speak Spanish.  If you have only a rudimentary grasp of the language take a Spanish course and give yourself the advantage!