Isabel recently turned 56 and has a long history in the legal and financial sectors. After earning a law degree, she practiced as a lawyer until the arrival of her first child. When her second son reached three, she explored a return to work, taking a part-time role as a financial representative at a bank specializing in mortgage sales. The company later outsourced its mortgage operations to reduce labor costs, and Isabel moved on to a similar position at another bank. She faced a termination when a permanent hire was about to be made. Now at 56, Isabel is engaging with the public sector opposition scene, preparing for the Administrative Assistant exams in Tax Administration, though she initially did not score enough to secure a place. In early April, she attempted the first opposition exam at the Complutense University of Madrid and confirmed that the second test would take place on May 6. She expressed mixed expectations but remained hopeful about staying active in the job market and receiving periodic calls for opportunities that align with her experience, while continuing to monitor related agenda items it may generate.
The year of ‘macro opposition’ in the public sector
Isabel’s profile reflects a broader pattern seen in recent surveys of opposition candidates. A nationwide survey with more than 3,600 online interviews among aspiring public workers reveals a portrait dominated by women, making up about 81 percent of respondents. The typical participant is aged between 36 and 50, with a strong core around 41 years old, often balancing family life and careers. Most live in urban settings, hold university degrees, and bring more than five years of work experience. A sizable majority already works in management or as administrative assistants. The portrait highlights a strong trend of experienced professionals entering opposition pools in 2023, with Isabel representing an older segment that is increasingly present in competitive rounds. In the words of Jacobo Fariña, head of communications for OpositaTest, approximately eight out of ten competitors bring more than one experience to the table, and five years of experience often coincide with higher turnover and broader exposure to different roles.
Catalonia
Within Catalonia, the competitive landscape shows slight differences. The candidate pool tends to be marginally older and includes a smaller share of men, around 15 percent, compared to the national average. More than two-thirds, about 66 percent, are over 40. Education levels are somewhat lower than the national average, with around 53 percent holding a university degree. Personal incomes are higher, with 63 percent reporting earnings above 1,000 euros. Over 87 percent bring more than five years of work experience, and national opposition data align with these tendencies. The Generalitat’s Department of Public Functions has drawn conclusions about temporary civil servants who have stabilized positions through recent public appeals: about 73 percent are women and 27 percent men, with an average age around 49 and 71 percent over 45. The typical tenure among these workers averages 13 years.
Overall, the Oposita Test survey paints a consistent picture: six in ten competitors work on two or more exams simultaneously. Among respondents, 38 percent have never prepared for an opposition before, while 62 percent have. Of those, 34 percent repeat the same exam and 28 percent prepare multiple different exams. The process of preparing for opposition can feel like a demanding distance race, especially when results don’t come on the first try. Yet many candidates view the experience as a valuable learning path that strengthens their professional resilience.
Jonathan García, CEO of a training platform for competitors, emphasizes the reality of ongoing preparation: the path is long, and persistence matters. The ongoing effort pays off as candidates gain familiarity with bureaucratic processes, exam formats, and time management strategies that translate into real-world efficiency.