Job hunting in Spain as a graduate, career changer or over 45

Key rules

• Graduates: Expect a slow entry market, and build local references through internships, freelance work or short contracts.
• Career changers: Show transferable skills, add a recognised course, and rely on contacts, because employers value Spanish sector experience.
• Over 45: Employers can get Social Security reductions for hiring you on an indefinite contract if you are registered as a jobseeker.
• Register first: Register as a jobseeker with the SEPE or your regional employment service, since most subsidies depend on it.

Subsidy amounts, durations and eligibility change with each budget, so confirm the current figures with the SEPE or your regional employment service.

The short version

Your life stage changes how employers see you in Spain. Graduates face a tough entry market. Career changers face doubt about experience from abroad. Workers over 45 often have a real advantage: employers can get lower Social Security costs for hiring them.

If you are a graduate

Youth unemployment (under 25) in Spain is among the highest in the EU and well above the EU average. It has been falling in recent years. Expect a slow search and treat your first job as a first step.

• Contracts have improved. Since the 2021 labour reform, the indefinite contract is the default and temporary hiring has dropped sharply. Temporary work is still more common than the EU average, especially in the public sector.
• If your role needs a recognised qualification, get your foreign degree homologated or recognised early. It can take time.
• Use internships, freelance work and short contracts to build local references.
• Register as a jobseeker with the public employment service (SEPE or your region's service). Registration is the condition for most subsidies and programmes.

If you are changing career

Spanish employers tend to value direct sector experience and recognised titles. If you have no Spanish experience, expect some scepticism. These tactics help:

• Show transferable skills with concrete results, and be ready to explain the change in a short, clear story.
• Take a recognised course or certification in the new field.
• Use personal contacts. Referrals (called "enchufe" or "contactos") matter a lot in Spain. Build a LinkedIn profile and network actively.
• Aim where your languages or international background count: multinationals, tech, customer support and English-speaking sectors.
• Consider a smaller firm, where the hiring process is less rigid.
• Take internships, freelance jobs or temporary contracts to get local references. The FAQ below covers this in more detail.

If you are over 45

Employers who hire workers over 45, or the long-term unemployed, can get bonificaciones: reductions in their Social Security contributions. This gives you a real selling point, so mention it to employers.

• The bonuses apply to indefinite contracts. They are paid as a monthly reduction in contributions and last for years.
• Typical conditions: you are registered as a jobseeker, the employer has no recent unlawful dismissals, and the employer is up to date with Social Security and tax.
• Amounts are higher for women and for longer periods of unemployment.
• Regional governments add their own hiring grants. There are also bonuses for people with disabilities and for social-inclusion groups.
• Older and long-term-unemployed workers are priority groups for employment programmes.

If you are unemployed and over 52, there is a state subsidy for that age group (subsidio para mayores de 52), and there are employment plans (Plan de Empleo). Ask the SEPE or your regional employment service whether you qualify and what the current amounts are, since they change with each budget.

What to do first

2. Ask them which programmes and subsidies fit your age and situation.
3. Pick the tactics above that match your life stage and start building contacts.

The questions below cover subsidies for over-45s, support after 52, local references and employers open to career changers.

Frequently asked questions

Are there hiring subsidies for workers over 45 in Spain?

Yes, employers can get reduced Social Security contributions for hiring jobseekers over 45 or the long-term unemployed on indefinite contracts. The employer must be up to date with Social Security and tax, and you must be registered as a jobseeker. Ask your regional employment service which bonuses and regional grants apply now.

Is there state support if I am unemployed and over 52?

Yes, Spain has a subsidy for unemployed people over 52, and a Plan de Empleo that gives extra support.

How can I build local references if I am changing career in Spain?

Take an internship, freelance job or temporary contract to build local references. A recognised course or certification also helps, and so does getting your degree recognised if the role requires it. Be ready to explain the change clearly.

Which employers are open to career changers without Spanish experience?

Multinationals, tech, customer support and English-speaking sectors are more open, because your languages and international background count as an asset. Smaller firms can also be easier to enter. Referrals (enchufe) and networking on LinkedIn often help more than cold applications.