Spain : Job market

What are my chances of getting a job?

Finding graduate work in Spain is currently very difficult as unemployment is extremely high. In April 2010 it passed 20% giving the country the highest unemployment rate in the euro zone. You will be competing in a large market of Spanish graduates. Foreign graduates may find it easier to secure work in Spain’s consulting, industry and computer science sectors. These sectors are undergoing a huge process of globalisation, with Banco Santander being one example, and offer opportunities to graduates fluent in Spanish and English.

• Typical problems encountered: language requirements (see below); getting access to the ‘hidden job market’; the amount of experience required for graduate roles (usually two-three years); and legal restrictions for non-EU graduates.
• How to improve your chances: make as many contacts as possible. Do not underestimate the importance of networking. Enquiries to companies who work in your field are one way to make contacts. If you are looking for a professional level job, remember that it is a competitive market so your experience and skills must be impressive.
• Language requirements: if you do not have a working knowledge of Spanish (Castilian), job options are extremely limited except in areas such as tourism and teaching English. Multinational companies may sometimes offer jobs where Spanish is not essential and work for non-Spanish speakers is sometimes available within the ex-pat community. If you are seeking work in the Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian regions, you may be expected to speak the local language (all these languages are officially recognised by the Spanish government). Spanish courses are available from BBC Languages. Courses may also be offered by your university or local language institutes, and your local library may have Spanish learning resources. The Instituto Cervantes Leeds, Instituto Cervantes Manchester and Instituto Cervantes Londres offers courses in Spanish and cultural events. For courses in Spain, see Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE). Or you could learn Spanish while doing work experience in Spain.

Where can I work?

• Major industries: retail/wholesale, manufacturing (especially chemicals, metals, food, motor vehicles), construction, real estate, transport, tourism.
• Recent growth areas: service sector, hotels and restaraunts, IT and hi-tech industries.
• Industries in decline: construction, real estate, agriculture.
• Shortage occupations: skilled trades, mechanics, restaurant/hotel staff, sales representatives.
• Major companies: Santander, Telefónica, Repsol YPF, BBVA, Endesa, ACS, Cepsa, Iberdrola, Ferrovial, FCC, Mapfre.
• Search for more companies: Kompass, Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain, Paginas Amarillas (Spanish Yellow Pages) and Global 500.
• Major cities: Madrid (capital), Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao.

What’s it like working in Spain?

• Average working hours: average full-time hours are just over 40 hours per week. The working day varies between organisations, but is commonly 9am until 6 or 7pm with a long lunch break. Shift work is common.
• Holidays: usually one month per year plus various national holidays.
• Average graduate starting salary: Spain has some of the lowest graduate salaries in Europe with starting salaries at around €19,000 a year. Salaries vary widely depending on the subject of your degree, with technical graduates doing far better than social scientists, for example. Female graduates tend to earn significantly less than their male counterparts.
• Tax rates: the income tax rate is 15.66% - 27.13% depending on your level of earnings. If you intend to work in Spain, you should register with the national tax office Agencia Tributaria on your arrival. Non-residents are taxed on any income earned in Spain, but if you work in Spain for over 183 days, you will be classed as a resident for tax purposes and will be asked to declare all your income for that year.
• Working practices and customs: business dress and etiquette in Spain are usually quite formal, though you should take a lead from other staff members. For business purposes, a handshake is the accepted greeting, whilst amongst friends and family kissing on the cheeks is common. Use the ‘usted’ form of you when speaking formally and refer to males as Señor (Mr) and females as Señora (Mrs/Ma'am).