Work culture in other regions and smaller cities

Key rules

• Local networks: In smaller places, who knows you often matters as much as your CV.
• Language: Spanish, and the regional language where there is one, helps you get accepted locally.
• Regional economies: Each region has different strong sectors, so match your field to the place.
• Islands: Jobs in the Balearic and Canary Islands are mostly tourism, and housing costs are high.

Madrid and Barcelona norms do not apply everywhere

Other regions have their own economies and denser personal networks. What works in a Madrid office may not work in Sevilla, Vigo or a town in Castilla y León. Learn what drives the local economy before you start applying or networking.

What each region does

• Valencia: logistics, ports, automotive (including the Ford plant at Almussafes), agri-food, tourism and ceramics. There is also a growing tech and start-up sector.
• Andalucía: tourism, agriculture (Almería greenhouses, Huelva berries, olive oil), aerospace in Sevilla and a tech hub in Málaga. Unemployment is higher and wages are lower than in the big cities.
• Basque Country: industry, engineering, steel, energy and finance. Wages are high, and the region has its own tax system.
• Galicia: automotive, textiles (home of Inditex) and fishing.
• Aragón: logistics, centred on Zaragoza.
• Castilla y León: automotive and agri-food.
• Navarra: industry and renewable energy.
• Murcia: agriculture.
• Balearic and Canary Islands: mostly tourism, with high housing costs. Work out whether a salary covers rent before you accept.

How hiring works in smaller cities

In smaller cities, personal networks, family ties and local reputation count for more than in big cities. Many jobs are filled by word of mouth, and fewer are advertised. A recommendation is called an enchufe. It is a normal part of how hiring works there.

Without local contacts, you can still get in:

• Join local associations and clubs, and show up regularly.
• Speak Spanish, and learn some of the regional language if there is one. It signals that you plan to stay.
• Contact local employers directly, and ask the chamber of commerce and the public employment service for help.
• Consider remote work for an employer outside the area. It is a realistic route if local jobs are scarce.

Public-sector jobs

Public-sector jobs are filled through competitive exams called oposiciones. Contacts matter less there, because your result in the exam decides.

The questions below cover sectors, finding work without contacts, and public jobs.

Frequently asked questions

Which regions suit my sector best outside Madrid and Barcelona?

Each region has its own strong sectors, so match your field to the local economy. Valencia suits logistics, automotive, agri-food and a growing tech scene, while Andalucía suits tourism, agriculture, aerospace in Sevilla and tech in Málaga. The Basque Country is strong in industry, engineering and finance, and Galicia, Aragón and Navarra have automotive, logistics and industry.

How do I find a job in a small city without local contacts?

Start with local employers, the chamber of commerce and the public employment service, which all help newcomers. Join local associations and learn Spanish, or the regional language, to build contacts. Remote work for an employer elsewhere is another route.

Do contacts matter for public-sector jobs in smaller places?

No, contacts matter much less for public-sector jobs, because they are filled by competitive exams called oposiciones. Private jobs are different: many are filled by word of mouth, the so-called enchufe, or a personal recommendation.