Mid and late career in Spanish workplaces

Terms used

• SEPE — SEPE is Spain's public employment service, which handles unemployment benefits, job guidance and training.
• Convenios colectivos — Convenios colectivos are collective agreements that set pay and conditions for a sector or company.
• Antigüedad — The antigüedad supplement is extra pay for years of service, only paid if your collective agreement or contract provides it.
• Trienios — Trienios are fixed pay amounts added for each three-year period of service.
• Quinquenios — Quinquenios are fixed pay amounts added for each five-year period of service.

Key rules

• Age bias: Employers cannot legally discriminate by age, but candidates over 45 still often face longer searches.
• Seniority: Years of service can raise your pay and your severance, but the pay supplement depends on your collective agreement.
• Over 52: A state subsidy exists for unemployed people aged 52 or over, so ask SEPE early.
• Employer bonuses: Employers can get Social Security bonuses for hiring older or long-term unemployed workers.

The short version

Spain treats age in two ways at once. Hiring can be harder after about 45, and harder still after 50. Once you are inside a company, experience and seniority carry real weight. Plan for both: put effort into getting hired, and use seniority once you are in.

Hiring after 45

Age bias in hiring is a well-documented problem. People over 45, and especially over 50, make up a large share of the long-term unemployed. Their searches often last over a year. Some job ads quietly favour younger candidates.

Employers cannot legally discriminate by age. In practice, the bias still shows up, so do not rely on the law alone to get you interviews.

What helps:

• Network first. Personal contacts, former colleagues and recruiters often get you past an automated screen.
• Keep a strong LinkedIn profile. Recruiters use it to find senior candidates.
• Update your digital skills. Free courses are available through the public employment service (SEPE) and regional services.
• Consider consultancy or interim work. Short assignments can lead to permanent roles.
• Consider self-employment. You may be able to use your unemployment benefit as start-up capital (capitalisation), if you qualify.

Seniority inside a company

Seniority is respected in most Spanish workplaces. Hierarchy and age often count, and experience builds authority and trust. Newer and tech-oriented firms tend to weigh results and skills more than years of service.

Seniority can also affect your pay and protection:

• Many collective agreements (convenios colectivos) set pay by professional group. Some add an antigüedad supplement, often paid as trienios or quinquenios, which is a fixed amount for each period of service.
• Not every job has this supplement. Check your convenio and your contract.
• Severance for unfair dismissal is calculated per year worked, so more years mean more compensation.
• Seniority can also affect notice and priority in collective redundancies.

Support if you are unemployed

• SEPE and regional employment services offer guidance and training for unemployed people.
• Subsidy for people aged 52 or over. The state offers this subsidy (subsidio para mayores de 52 años). Its rules were reformed in 2024 and it is linked to retirement.
• Hiring incentives. Employers can get Social Security bonuses for hiring long-term unemployed or older workers. Mention this when you talk to employers.
• Programmes for people aged 45 or over. Some regions and charities, such as Cruz Roja and Fundación Mapfre, run them.

Eligibility varies by region and by your benefit status. Ask SEPE or your regional employment service before you plan around any of these.

How to plan

1. Start your search early and build contacts before you need them.
2. Present your experience as results and current skills, not only years served.
3. Before accepting an offer, check what your convenio says about pay by group and any antigüedad supplement.
4. If you are 52 or over and out of work, ask SEPE about the subsidy early.

The FAQ below answers common questions on these points.

Frequently asked questions

Is age discrimination in hiring illegal in Spain?

Yes, Spanish law bars employers from discriminating by age, but over-45s still report that job ads and selection favour younger candidates. Searches for people over 50 often last more than a year. If you think a rejection was based on your age, ask for the reasons in writing and seek advice from a union or a labour lawyer.

Does seniority raise my pay in Spain?

It can, if your convenio colectivo (the sector pay agreement) includes an antigüedad supplement, often paid as trienios or quinquenios. This is a fixed amount for each period of service. It is not universal, so check your convenio and contract. Seniority also increases severance for unfair dismissal, which is calculated per year worked.

What help exists for unemployed workers over 52 in Spain?

Spain offers a subsidy for unemployed people aged 52 or over (subsidio para mayores de 52 años), which was reformed in 2024 and is linked to retirement. Employers also get Social Security bonuses for hiring older or long-term unemployed workers. Ask SEPE, the public employment service, or your regional service what you qualify for.

Which options help me change jobs after 45 in Spain?

Networking, recruiters and LinkedIn are the main routes, along with free SEPE or regional courses to update digital skills. You can also offer consultancy or interim work, or go self-employed using the capitalisation of unemployment benefit. Some regions, Cruz Roja and Fundación Mapfre run programmes for people aged 45 or over.