Most in-demand jobs in Spain: sectors and key skills.

The supply and demand of each country are closely related to its industry, culture, geographical situation, sociopolitical context, and sources of natural resources. Currently, all these factors have been influenced by globalization, which has encouraged professionals from all sectors to become qualified, update their skills, and seek better opportunities.

In this post, we will talk about the labor market in Spain, which sectors are growing the most, the most in-demand jobs, and where the supply is heading. Whether you are already working or actively looking for a job, keep reading this post — we’ll tell you everything.

Let’s put things into context: What are the main changes that the Spanish labor market has undergone in recent years?

The Spanish labor market has experienced very significant changes in the demand for professionals, with a strong push toward digital and sustainable skills. At the same time, there has been growth in key sectors such as technology, tourism, healthcare, and renewable energy. Alignment with Europe’s labor needs and regulations has also been an important aspect of the evolution of Spain’s labor market over the last decade.

Let’s now look at the aspects of the labor landscape that have evolved the most

Demand for professionals

There has been an evolution in the demand for professional skills and profiles. An increase has been observed in the need for specialized technology profiles such as software developers, data analysts, cybersecurity specialists, and IT professionals. In addition, there has been a growing emphasis on skills related to sustainability, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, and project management.

Growing sectors

Some sectors have experienced notable growth, such as technology, tourism, healthcare, renewable energy, and the agri-food industry. Digitalization has driven the development of startups and innovative companies, while tourism and healthcare have remained traditional sectors with steady professional demand.

New needs in relation to Europe

Labor harmonization and a focus on labor mobility have led to greater emphasis on language skills, especially in English and other European languages. In addition, there has been a trend toward adapting to European labor regulations, such as promoting gender equality policies, data protection (in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR), and diversity in the workplace.

Digitalization and remote work

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work and digitalization across many sectors. This has led to greater labor flexibility and a need for skills related to remote management, cybersecurity, digital tool handling, and adaptation to virtual work environments.

Discover the 10 most in-demand jobs in Spain over the past year

Although the pandemic is behind us, it marked a turning point in the business sector — implementing new methodologies, business models, and creating new needs. During the toughest times, we were forced to accelerate the digital transformation process to remain competitive. That is why now, more than ever, technology-related jobs top the list of the ten most in-demand roles. However, other positions such as delivery driver or warehouse worker are also included in this list as a “collateral effect” of the boom in online sales.

Let’s discover the new job opportunities that the future holds!

1. E-commerce specialist: In 2020, online sales in Spain increased by 36%, leading to greater demand for e-commerce specialists.

• Data analyst and data scientist: The growing need to manage large volumes of data — known as big data — has made these professionals highly sought after.

• Delivery vehicle driver: This position saw 134,696 job openings, a 26% increase. This is largely due to the rise of e-commerce, which has boosted the need for delivery drivers to ship online purchases.

• Sales representative: There have been 127,247 openings for this position. Sales representatives are essential for company growth and sales development.

• Warehouse worker: This position saw 111,629 openings, an 18% increase. Like delivery drivers, demand for warehouse workers has grown due to the expansion of online commerce.

• Web analyst and digital marketing specialist: Literally, companies without an online presence don’t exist. For this reason, more and more native digital businesses — or those expanding into the digital space — need qualified professionals who can execute this process from every perspective.

• Cybersecurity specialist: The increase in digital threats and cybercrimes has made these experts among the most in-demand professionals in today’s labor market. It is estimated that by 2024, Spanish companies will need around 83,000 professionals.

• Cloud architect: The migration to cloud-based solutions has accelerated, and with it, the demand for Cloud Business Architects has grown considerably.

• User Experience (UX) expert: User experience is key to engaging your audience and conveying your brand’s values. If the user experience is good, the customer will complete the purchase; if satisfied, they’ll buy again, generating more revenue for the company. In addition, websites have become more complex, so ensuring a smooth user experience is essential.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert: The adoption of AI has more than doubled since 2017. Companies developing AI and data analysis solutions are hiring software engineers, data scientists and analysts, and machine learning experts at an unprecedented rate. The demand for tech profiles continues to grow, and companies are finding it increasingly difficult to find candidates that fit their needs.

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