EU Citizens
As a citizen of the European Union, you can come over to Spain and work without needing to apply for and obtain a work permit. And with many low cost flights available, plenty of TV programmes about the area and a general disillusionment with life in northern European countries, there are an increasing number of working age people relocating to Spain and seeking employment.
If you are looking for employment opportunities of a professional nature, you are less likely to find them in this part of Spain as they tend to exist in the more commercial areas of Northern Spain. Employment in the South East corner of Spain tends to relate mainly to agriculture, property and tourism.
Salary and Wages
You will also find that the typical wages paid in this part of Spain can be lower when compared with the UK. But don´t let this worry you, the much lower cost of living puts everything back into perspective.
In an ideal world, we would all secure paid employment before moving over to Spain but in reality, this is very difficult to achieve. Your best bet is to start looking for work when you have arrived and are reasonably settled in Spain so don´t forget to allow for some financial contingency if you want to avoid sleepless nights.
It Helps to Speak Spanish
If you intend to seek work in Spain, your prospects will improve considerably if you can speak Spanish. Even though you may not be fluent when you arrive in the country, you should plan to learn as soon as possible. Check at your local town hall as they will often offer courses to newcomers in an attempt to assist integration into the Spanish way of life.
So what are your options for work?
Casual/Seasonal Work
In the tourist trade, there are many seasonal vacancies, particularly for bar and restaurant staff. As long as you are presentable and hard-working you shouldn't have any trouble finding seasonal work in the many bars and restaurants that line the promenades and beach fronts of the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida. There are also more and more English bars, restaurants and shops starting to open up further inland, often on or close to new urbanisations.
Permanent Employment
There are many permanent jobs in the region for people relocating to Spain. Apart from the obvious employment opportunities in the tourist trade and property sector, there are also many marketing, support and administrative roles available, often where fluent Spanish is not a requirement. With a high demand however, competition is fierce so you will need to ensure that you are seen to put in real effort and make your mark with any prospective employer.
Start Your Own Business
Setting up your own business can be difficult if you do not do sufficient research. It makes good sense to enlist the services of local "asesor" or "gestor" who will be able to help you through the various issues, rules, regulations and legal landmines you will inevitably face. If you do your research in advance and identify a product or service that is in short supply or even non-existent, then you should have a good chance of success.
