Jobs in Spain, the Spanish job market
Unemployment in Spain is currently at 16.13% (as of the last quarter of 2020), which means that competition for jobs in most areas is very high. There are a lot of Spanish people looking for work right now. And when you consider that Spain has the highest unemployment rate among young people in the whole of Europe, then you begin to get an idea of just how serious the situation is.
The average Spanish person is, quite understandably, finding looking for work (especially now) an incredibly frustrating and difficult task.
The major cities in Spain will of course offer the most opportunities for any non-Spanish person looking to work in the country. It should perhaps be kept in mind though that finding gainful employment in Spain is, more often than not, going to be down to who you know, and not necessarily how qualified you may be for a given position.
While this is certainly the case, a lot of the time if not all of the time, you should still try to find out if the qualifications you have gained in your home country will be recognised in Spain.
It can be a disadvantage not being Spanish in Spain
Being a non-national in Spain can sometimes be a disadvantage in some industries and with certain employers – there are also some restrictions that employers face when employing non-Spanish people in Spanish businesses.
Language is another obvious barrier, and unless you have at least a working knowledge of the language then your employment chances and opportunities are going to be rather limited, as you would rightfully expect. Learning Spanish is going to be invaluable to your job hunt and it is certainly going to increase your prospects and the opportunities that are available to you.
Learning the language is also an excellent way to ingratiate yourself with potential employers. Also, consider learning Catalan because it is going to be a necessity if you ever consider the idea of working in Cataluña.
It isn’t all gloom and gloom
Despite all of the above, and it shouldn't be discounted, there are some industries that do look for skilled foreign workers. For instance. Skilled tradespeople, engineers and those with experience in the finance sector are in high demand and likely will be for the foreseeable future.
If you have ever considered being a teacher of your native language, English for example, in Spain then there are always plenty of opportunities for this type of position in the country.
While all of the above is perfectly true and correct, given the economic climate and high unemployment in Spain, it is strongly advised that you have a job ready to step into, when you step off the plane, before you make the big move here.
Emigrating can be an extremely exciting time, full of adventure and opportunity, but you are not going to enjoy yourself very much if you are not able to fund your big life adventure. Be prepared.