Spain needs skilled labour
According to the 3rd edition of the yearly report of immigration, Spain will require 100.000 immigrants a year up to 2012 to fill qualified positions in the public health system, engineering and in the technology sector. But 2012 430.000 skilled workers will be needed for the Spanish economy to remain competitive over the years.
Two of the key reasons that are responsible for this are the gradual ageing of Spanish society and the country’s low birth rate.
According to the Secretary of State for Immigration, Consuelo Rumi, the Spanish government will orient its policies according to market needs and the need to integrate immigrant workers and their future descendants.
Furthermore the study showed that along with highly trained professionals, there is need of technicians in sectors such as production, operations and maintenance and of qualified tradesmen (or women) such as electricians and welders.
Interestingly enough, the Socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is offering financial incentives to newly jobless immigrants to return to their homelands.
But there is a certain logic to this contradiction. Many of the immigrants that have arrive over the last few years have mainly been low skill workers that have worked in tourism and construction. With the vast downturn in residential building many of the workers have found themselves without work and do not have the necessary skills/education to find work in other fields. And unfortunately most of the skills that are required cannot be taught in the time it would take.
So if you have the skills or knowledge and you’ve thought of moving to Spain, now might be the time.
Regards
Andrew Belles
