A Alicante labor market overview and trends
The province has patiently pursued a more innovative business climate while the larger economic structure shifts. However, the profile of jobs and funding remains concentrated in a few sectors and roles that have long dominated contracts in the region. A broad, unqualified job base continues to absorb a large share of opportunities, despite efforts to diversify and upgrade talent pipelines.
Statistics show that last year a substantial share of jobs created in the state required only basic schooling. Primary studies accounted for about half of all positions, with just over a quarter needing the equivalent of secondary education. A small portion demanded higher education, and even fewer required specific vocational training or university degrees. Some of these figures echo conditions that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting how entrenched qualification gaps have remained.
This pattern is a defining feature of the Alicante Labor Market Report, the annual publication produced by the Separate Occupations Observatory. It offers a granular snapshot of employment in the province and serves as a key indicator of labor market health and structure.
Following a decline driven by lockdowns and restrictions, the total number of contracts signed in Alicante last year reached 584,881, reflecting a 23.2 percent rebound from the previous year but still below the 2019 level of 683,016.
Across the board, the occupations with the largest contract volumes remained familiar. Waitstaff led the list with more than 65,000 hires, a 39 percent rise from 2020. Many of these contracts are short in duration, a trend that labor reform implemented this year aims to address by offering more stable arrangements.
In second place, manufacturing workers signed 42,524 contracts, up 21.3 percent. Farm workers followed with 36,469 contracts, an 8.22 percent increase, marking resilience in agricultural roles. The rise mirrors a broader pattern of modest growth in agri-food demand despite ongoing pandemic adjustments.
Commerce solidified its position as the fourth largest employer with 34,871 hires, including store and warehouse positions, up 38.4 percent. The fifth position went to cleaning staff with 21,075 additions, a 25.29 percent increase.
Greenhouse and garden workers accounted for 21,075 contracts, up 6.06 percent; transport workers and unloaders registered 20,412 contracts, a sizeable 42.69 percent rise; kitchen helpers totaled 15,204 contracts, up 44.39 percent; masons saw 14,807 contracts, down 7.55 percent; and chefs reached 12,690 contracts, rising 40.78 percent. These roles collectively form the top ten most in-demand occupations in the province.
Only a third of new contracts in Alicante are full-time
When looking at contract types, only a fraction of new jobs were uncertain in nature last year. The share of uncertain contracts stood at 11.78 percent, while labor reform this year shifted a large portion of new positions toward permanence. Despite gains, some workers continued to experience churn, with thousands signing ten or more contracts within a single year in the past. Full-time positions accounted for 58.9 percent of new openings, with 41.1 percent requiring some form of part-time agreement.
Long-term unemployment
The two-year pandemic period left a lasting mark on the labor landscape, notably in the rise of long-term unemployment. By the end of 2021, 97,726 people in Alicante were registered as unemployed for more than a year, a 55 percent increase from 2019. About six out of ten unemployed residents fall into this category, and two-thirds of the long-term unemployed are women. The largest age group is those over 54, followed by the 45 to 54 bracket.
Gender gaps persist
Despite progress in gender equality, the Separate Occupations Observatory highlights clear occupational gaps between male and female workers. For instance, only a small share of women filled traditionally male roles such as bricklayers or truck drivers. Conversely, women overwhelmingly populate caregiving roles at home and cleaning positions, making up the vast majority of workers in those areas.