How do I get a job in Spain?

Spain’s job market is growing, but unemployment is still higher than in the UK and most jobs need Spanish. Since Brexit you also need a work permit, so the job usually has to come before the move.

The job market by region

The number of people in work rose to 22,779,000 in the second quarter of 2026, and the unemployment rate fell to 9.87% (INE, Labour Force Survey). For under-25s it was 23.77%.

The Balearics had the lowest rate in Spain and Andalusia the highest.

Can you work there?

Unless you lived in Spain before 1 January 2021 (Withdrawal Agreement rights), you need permission to work. The main routes:

• Highly qualified professional or EU Blue Card: for degree-level roles (or equivalent experience). The application goes to the Unit for Large Companies and Strategic Groups (UGE), which must decide within 20 days. GOV.UK quoted minimum salaries of €40,077 for technicians and €54,142 for managers as of 2022, and says the permit lasts up to 3 years
• Ordinary work permit (cuenta ajena: employed by someone else): the employer must show the job is on the regional list of hard-to-fill occupations, updated every quarter, or advertise it with the public employment service first. The first permit is limited to one region and one occupation. GOV.UK says it takes 6 to 10 months
• Digital nomad (international teleworker): for remote work for employers outside Spain. Freelancers can earn up to 20% from Spanish clients
• Family members can usually join you. See Visa routes to Spain and The partner at home

Public sector jobs as a civil servant (funcionario) are open to Spanish and EU nationals and certain family members. Other legal residents can apply for public jobs on an employment contract (personal laboral).

Where to look

• Job boards such as InfoJobs and LinkedIn
• Public sector jobs are listed on the government’s jobs search (administracion.gob.es) and regional sites
• Employers’ own career pages, especially international companies with offices in Spain
• Recruitment agencies in your field
• Check whether an advert asks for an existing work permit (“permiso de trabajo”)

What jobs pay

Average yearly gross pay in 2024, from INE’s wage structure survey. Pay is usually quoted gross a year, split into 14 payments (see Working in Spain).

The median, which half of workers earn less than, was €24,497. The minimum wage for 2026 is €1,221 a month over 14 payments, €17,094 a year (about £14,490), set by Real Decreto 126/2026. Compare offers with the pay calculator, and read Understanding a Spanish job offer.

Language

Employers set their own language requirements. Outside international firms and English teaching, expect interviews and work in Spanish, and in Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Palma some jobs ask for Catalan or Valencian. Regulated professions need your degree recognised, which can require a B2 Spanish certificate: see Getting your qualifications recognised.

Your CV

• Write it in Spanish for Spanish employers, and keep it short
• Say clearly which permit you have or need
• For jobs with children you need a certificate from the Spanish sex offenders register, and often a UK police certificate