Work In Spain

Unless you speak Spanish it is very difficult to find work in Spain

The majority of people who come to live full time on the Costa Blanca are retired and live on a fixed income, and are not worried about finding full time employment. Many only need to top up their income by doing airport runs, offering a key holding facility or doing odd jobs for other expats etc.

If you are an EU national you do not need a work permit, though finding employment is not that easy if you are outside of the cities, major towns, and tourist hotspots.

If you do not speak Spanish then your only hope is to look in areas where your fellow countrymen live.

Most people end up buying or starting a business, with the most popular being a bar. You will find the most popular resorts are saturated with British bars, all offering the same thing and all competing for the same customers with many of them going out of business after a few months

Up until recently people were able to find work in Spain in the building industry, but now with thousands being laid off there is very little chance of employment until the developers decide the time is right to start up again.

Many tradesmen (such as builders, plumbers, electricians) opt for self-employment, and many expats prefer to use these as they will not have any language problems, but again the competition is fierce and the pay is low.

The wages are far lower in Spain than the UK and most other countries in northern Europe, and the competition to secure even the lowest-paid jobs can be tough due to the problem of illegal immigrants prepared to work for poor pay in bad conditions.

Non speaking Spanish were able to get employment in the Real Estate Industry, but with the downturn in the building industry, thousands of estate agents have gone bust and there are not many looking to take on staff in the foreseeable future.

Tourism is still strong in Spain and a reasonable amount of work can be found in the tourist areas, especially if you can speak Spanish, and for non-Spanish speaking expats there is seasonal work in the bars and restaurants which line the beachfronts of much of coastal Spain

Whatever you do if you have not secured full time employment before going to live permanently in Spain do not turn up with only enough money to last you a few months with high expectations of finding work and having a better lifestyle, because you will soon discover that finding any kind of work and having a better life will be far harder than you ever imagined.

If you are looking to live permanently and need to make a living in Spain then with preparation and research you should be able to find your niche in the marketplace.

I was fairly lucky because by researching the marketplace I was able to find my niche, and start my Property Finding Service on the Costa Blanca.

If you want to know how I came to find my niche and need some help in finding yours, click here and find out how to achieve this.

Home Page  About Us Property Finding Service  How We Work Our Costs  Locations

Golf Developments  Inheritance Tax Currency Transfer Costa Blanca Schools 

Spanish Fiestas Work In Spain Wish List Contact Us Useful Links