Mid‑May and the island’s tourist campaign presses on, yet many Ibiza businesses have not finished their staffing templates. The local climate remains costly, with rents that keep prices high. Employers worry they won’t have enough staff for the peak season. Florence Borgati, owner of La Maison d’Ibiza in the center of Vila, voices the concern: there isn’t even a single resume in sight.
A banner has appeared on shopfronts across town bearing the simplest message: staff needed. In recent weeks, several sites completed expansion work and now require one more clerk to manage the increasing workload. Borgati explains, “We’re here from nine in the morning to nine at night because our team is too small.” The current offer is a full‑time shift from Monday to Saturday for six months, with a contract that feels uncertain. And the biggest hurdle remains the prohibitive rent. “The price of space is the main problem,” she notes.
Diana Mihalcea, who oversees two restaurants and a cafe‑concert in Sant Antoni bay, finds herself in a very similar spot. Hours have been shaved back due to the shortage of workers. Historically, these venues served lunch and dinner; now they operate mainly night shifts because cooks are scarce. The position typically pays around 2,500 euros a month, but there is no guarantee who will take on the job.
Rent pressures are intense this year. The high cost of leasing compounds the challenge of hiring, and there is a stubborn shortage of waitstaff. Many employers report a heavy reliance on English speakers and note that post‑Brexit barriers complicate recruitment. Argentina sends workers who may arrive without proper documentation, and a substantial portion of available applicants lack experience, further complicating the hiring landscape.
Alicia Reina, president of the Balearic Islands’ Association of Hotel Managers (ADEH), suggests a practical solution: the Employment Service should train unemployed people in targeted sectors. She believes rigorous training would ensure a steady supply of qualified workers and easier integration into the labor market.
The La Farándula restaurant in Sant Antoni is looking to fill up to five roles, including waiter, runner, bartender, and DJ. Yet the path to filling vacancies is riddled with obstacles. Accommodation is a major hurdle; applicants often arrive with resumes but cannot secure living arrangements, so they depart once their hostel stays end. The second hurdle is the lack of qualified staff, especially in highly specialized roles like bartending, where trained professionals are in short supply.
A lingerie store owner in central Ibiza, who preferred not to be named, notes a striking shift. He has spent nine years on the island and has never seen a hiring climate like this. The combination of impossible rents and the freedom for workers to choose where to work creates a worrisome mismatch between demand and supply. The business owner adds, “We’re unsure how to respond to the demand.”
Internet offers
These four stories are just a snapshot of hundreds of current hiring efforts. Entrepreneurs post help‑wanted signs at storefronts and share opportunities via WhatsApp, Telegram, and various websites. Social media plays a pivotal role in recruiting new staff.
In virtual groups on Facebook, for example, hiring posts use the search terms “employment in Ibiza.” In one notice, applicants are told to call the listed number for a position that promises a fixed‑term civilian employee role and a 20‑hour course. Another post advertises a summer job at a Sant Antoni hamburger restaurant with potential year‑round opportunities, spanning five days per week, 40 hours, and monthly pay in the 1,600–1,800 euro range. The call for candidates emphasizes kitchen capabilities for certain roles, while other positions promise quick on‑the‑job training.
Mihalcea reiterates that minimal knowledge can be sufficient for some roles, particularly where on‑the‑job learning is feasible within a week. She points out that other postings demand more specialized skills and longer onboarding.
A recruitment notice from a multi‑service company inquires about masonry work hours and a clerk position at a Platja d’en Bossa tobacconist, highlighting language requirements, residency status, and a preference for year‑round Ibiza residence. A valid driver’s license is often considered a plus.
Even when accommodation is scarce, some employers still seek experienced staff in hospitality roles, such as cooks, kitchen assistants, and waitstaff, especially in Sant Carles and nearby areas.
With so many offers, the hiring process is hurried and in need of clearer contracts. Several job postings lack essential details like exact work location or terms of employment. One example simply states, “Dishwasher/delivery attendant needed in Cala de Bou,” while another specifies a Santa Eulària waiter who should live locally and work only nights, with proper documentation.
Across these narratives, the hiring landscape remains crowded yet uneven. The volume of opportunities is immense, but the path to stable, well‑defined employment is far from straightforward. Many businesses describe the situation as a daily reality that persists throughout the summer, with many postings showing up anew as conditions shift.