Spain's economy is the ninth largest worldwide and the fifth largest in Europe, according to the World Bank. It is also the 3rd largest world investor. Let's take a look at the labour market in Spain.
The Spanish economy remained extremely buoyant in 2007, with an increase of 3.8% in GDP. Demand stabilised due principally to a slow-down in private consumption and in investment in construction. However, there was increased investment in capital goods.
Although employment rose by 3%, the statistics from the Encuesta de Población Activa [EPA – Active Population Survey] show lower dynamism in the first quarter of 2008 due to the slow-down in economic growth coupled with price rises and falling house sales.
The unemployment rate was 8.6% during 2007. During the fourth quarter of 2007, the active population was 22 404 500 people and the number employed amounted to 20 476 900.
Spain’s resident population at 1 January 2007 was 45 200 737 million inhabitants, of which 4 519 554, or 10%, were foreigners.
The most numerous foreigners were Moroccans, followed by Romanians, Ecuadorians and Colombians. It is also worth pointing out that there were more than 314 951 citizens from the United Kingdom, 164 405 Germans and 141 159 Argentinians.
Figures recorded for December 2007 show that 2 129 547 people were registered as unemployed in public job centres. The highest unemployment rate was in the Service sector while Construction is the sector most under threat in relation to 2006.
The top ten economic sectors employing the most people in 2007 included the following: Other business activities, Construction, Hospitality, Agriculture, Retail Trade, Health Activities, Recreational Activities, Wholesale Trade, Public Administration, Education.
The number of jobs involving a move by the worker to a province other than their province of residence rose in 2007 (by a percentage higher than the total percentage of recruitment). The increased mobility in Spain was facilitated by the movement of foreigners.
The basic profile of a mobile employee is male, aged approximately thirty, with secondary-level education, with a low-skilled job in construction or agriculture.
At 31 December 2007, 19 195 755 people were registered for social security, the following economic sectors having the highest number of registered workers: Construction, Other Business Activities and Retail Trade.
The structure of the Spanish economy is made up primarily of small businesses, 75.58% of which employ no more than five employees. As in previous years, this gives an overview of the country’s business fabric, mainly based on small and medium-sized businesses (less than 50 employees).
Legal weekly duration: 40 hours
Retirement age: 65 or 64 years.
Working contracts: The labor contract can be written or oral; for an indefinite period or for a defined duration, training contract, relief contract, termporary contract for work or defined assignment.
For further information, please visit the website of INEM or refer the labor guide from the Department of Labor and Social Welfare.
Minimum wage: 20 EUR/day, 600 EUR/month or 8,400 EUR/year
Average wage: The gross average annual salary in the manufacturing industry and services was 21150.2 for 2006.
72,000 EUR/year for senior executives and 41,500 EUR/year for middle management.
Social contributions: Social security contributions paid by employers: 29.9%
Social security contributions paid by employees: 6.35%.
Social dialogue and involvement of social partners: There are about forty trade unions (general or regional) and a large number of sector-based / regional unions (gremios).
Unions:
National Labor Union
Association of Trade Unions
Workers' Commission
Unionization rate: Union membership is low: around 14%.
Labor regulation bodies: Department of Labor and Social welfare.
Source: Europa, Laposte-export-solutions
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