What the Spanish job market is really like for newcomers

Key rules

• Income plan: Do not make a local job search your only source of income when you arrive.
• Who is hit hardest: Under-25s and non-EU foreigners face the highest unemployment.
• Where jobs are: Openings are concentrated in hospitality, transport, construction, healthcare, technology and agriculture.
• Contracts: Temporary contracts are far less common than before 2022, but seasonal work still has gaps.

The short answer

Do not rely on finding a Spanish job as your only income. Unemployment is still high compared with most of Western Europe. It is highest for young people and for foreigners, and the openings are concentrated in a few sectors. Spain's rate has been falling for years and is now at its lowest since 2008, so jobs exist. But a newcomer with no job lined up, little Spanish or no recognised qualification should plan for a long search.

Who finds it hardest

Young people. Unemployment among under-25s is roughly double the national rate or more. If you are under 25 and arriving without experience, expect a slow start.

Foreigners from outside the EU. The national statistics survey splits unemployment into Spanish nationals, EU foreigners and non-EU foreigners. Non-EU nationals have the highest rate, several percentage points above Spanish nationals. EU foreigners sit in between or close to the Spanish rate. The gap has narrowed as more foreigners have found work, but it has not closed.

The survey comes out every quarter, about three to four weeks after the quarter ends. Look up the latest national, under-25 and nationality figures before you build a budget. The timeline below shows when to check, and the resource list below shows where.

Where the jobs are

Vacancies cluster in a few areas:

• Hospitality: cooks and waiters.
• Transport: truck and bus drivers.
• Construction trades.
• Healthcare: doctors, nurses and specialists.
• Technology and engineering.
• Agriculture and fishing.

Across the whole economy, the most openings are in commerce, industry, hospitality, health and administrative services. In absolute numbers, Madrid and Cataluña have the most. A quarterly public list of hard-to-fill jobs, the Catálogo de Ocupaciones de Difícil Cobertura, shows which roles are short of workers. It varies by province, so check the one for the place where you plan to live.

If your work is outside these areas, the search will usually take longer. Many of these jobs also require Spanish, a recognised qualification or a licence.

What contracts look like now

Temporary contracts used to be about 25% of jobs for employees. After the 2021 labour reform, which applied from 2022, the share fell to roughly 15-16%, near the lowest in decades. Many temporary jobs became permanent or fijo discontinuo, which is permanent work that only runs in certain seasons or periods. This helps you: a first contract is more likely to be open-ended than it once was. Seasonal work still means gaps between periods of work. Public-sector jobs have more temporary contracts than private ones.

How to use this

1. Check the latest unemployment figures for your age group and nationality group.
2. Look at the vacancy lists for your region and your job.
3. Plan to arrive with savings, remote income or a signed job offer, and treat a local job search as a bonus rather than the base of your plan.

Timeline and deadlines

• Check the latest national, under-25 and nationality-group unemployment rates before you build an income plan: Each time a new quarterly release comes out

Release timing is approximate; confirm the publication date and current figure on the national statistics institute's site.

Where to check Spanish unemployment and wage data by region

Where to check unemployment and wage data

• INE, Spain's national statistics institute: Check the quarterly labour force survey (EPA) for unemployment by region. It comes out about three to four weeks after each quarter ends (late January, April, July and October). The INE also publishes the annual wage structure survey, about 18 months after its year, and the quarterly labour cost survey, about 2.5 to 3 months after each quarter.

• SEPE, the public employment service: Check registered unemployment (paro registrado) and contract statistics by province and municipality. They come out monthly, on the second or third working day of the following month.

• Ministry of Labour and Social Economy, and Social Security: Check monthly Social Security affiliation data (people working and paying in) and average wages.

• AEAT, Spain's tax agency: Check wage statistics built from tax returns.

• Your region's statistics institute, such as Idescat in Catalonia or IECA in Andalucía: Check the regional breakdowns of jobs and wages for the area where you plan to live.

Frequently asked questions

Which foreign residents have the hardest time finding work in Spain?

Non-EU nationals consistently have the highest unemployment rate of any group, several percentage points above Spanish nationals. EU foreigners usually sit in between or close to the Spanish rate. The gap has narrowed as foreign employment has grown.

Which sectors have the most jobs open in Spain?

Shortage jobs are concentrated in hospitality, transport, construction trades, healthcare, technology and engineering, and agriculture and fishing. Overall vacancies are highest in commerce, industry, hospitality, health and administrative services. Madrid and Cataluña have the most in absolute terms.

How common are temporary contracts in Spain now?

Temporary contracts now cover roughly 15-16% of employees, down from about 25% before the 2021 labour reform. Many became permanent or fijo discontinuo, a permanent contract with seasonal work. Public-sector temporary rates remain higher than private-sector ones.

How much higher is youth unemployment than the national rate?

Unemployment for under-25s is roughly double the national rate or more. It has been falling in recent years, while the national rate in 2025 was at its lowest since 2008. Even so, a young newcomer should not count on local work as the only income.