The Spanish Ministry of Labor has rejected the idea that the country is facing a job market with postings that cannot be filled. Officials argue there is no need to loosen entry requirements to allow more foreigners to work in Spain, a stance that contrasts with recommendations from the Social Security Minister and the business federation CEOE. The ministry says the difficulties seen in certain sectors and regions come from less favorable working conditions rather than an actual shortage of workers. This view feeds into a wider political conversation across Europe and beyond, echoing considerations heard in other political arenas, including calls associated with elevating wages to attract more workers in the United States.
Data from the quarterly labor cost survey (ETCL) published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) shows Spain currently has roughly 141,000 vacancies. This figure equates to about 0.9% of total employment, a share ministry representatives describe as among the lowest in the European Union. Even as many industries report ongoing recruitment challenges, the administration maintains that the vacancy rate does not signal a structural shortage. In practice, employers continue to fill roles in hospitality and other service-oriented sectors, noting that the number of open positions now exceeds pre-pandemic levels. The available data indicates vacancies rose from under 100,000 before the pandemic to the current level, nearly doubling the 74,000 seen in the second quarter of 2020. Some observers argue this gap accounts for a sizable part of last year’s job creation and broader employment dynamics.
Jose Luis Escrivá has framed his stance within a broader labor policy context, signaling openness to temporary measures that would integrate undocumented workers into the formal labor market after a period of training and stabilization. The ministry stresses that if there is no genuine shortage of vacancies, there is no need for extraordinary recruitment schemes. The discussion remains focused on whether the absence of sufficiently qualified applicants in particular occupations or geographic regions should be treated as a market signal requiring targeted policy responses rather than broad, blanket changes. Long-term policy aims emphasize balancing the needs of competitive industries with fair labor standards, training opportunities, and orderly immigration practices.
The labor dialogue in Spain continues to examine how to address real gaps in specific roles or locations. Officials suggest that any actual deficit should be reflected in a formal list of hard-to-fill occupations. This catalog would enable hiring authorities to recruit workers from abroad directly at their sources, aligning talent supply with employer demand while considering effects on local labor markets and social integration. In this ongoing debate, the focus remains on preserving competitive industries while upholding fair labor practices, accessible training, and orderly immigration policies. The context and data from INE’s ETCL program provide the backdrop for these discussions, helping policymakers gauge when targeted measures are warranted rather than sweeping changes for the entire economy. Source: INE ETCL data.