Staffing Agencies in Spain are expecting a record summer for job creation. Adecco says that, this summer, 1.3 million contracts will be signed, while Randstad puts the number at 548,325, according to two reports published yesterday. Although these figures are very different, due their methodologies, the two have one thing in common. They both predict there will be a record summer for hiring, with double-digit increases with respect to the previous year and with figures that were not visible since the outbreak of the financial crisis. In fact, the increases compared to 2016 are almost equal; 12% and 12.2%, respectively.

Adecco says that the bulk of the hiring will take place in Catalonia, Madrid and Andalusia, in this order, which will account for almost half of all new jobs. But recruitment volume is predicted to increase in all communities, from 6% in Castilla-La Mancha to 25% in Cantabria.

For its part, Randstad estimates that the bulk of the demand will take place in Andalusia, with 112,000 new jobs (that is, a fifth of the contracts linked to the summer campaign) followed by Catalonia, Valencia and Madrid.

By sector, Randstad says that tourism will be "the main recruitment engine during the summer period", as it "promotes the incorporation of professionals in the sectors of commerce, transport, hospitality and leisure and training." They estimate that 214,050 contracts (i.e. 39% of the total) will be produced in the transport sector, "especially the staff of ports, airports and transport stations, as well as customer service professionals." The second major focus for employment will be trade, with 138,750 new jobs (one in four), followed by jobs in hotels (128,310). Finally, restaurants will employ 54,060 more workers (one in ten) and leisure and entertainment, at 12,746. The latter two sectors are benefiting from the "100% occupancy” in many establishments.

On the other hand, although Adecco acknowledges the importance of tourist jobs  It also highlights that "the food sector will require food handlers and the contact center sector, as usual, will demand telemarketers." It also believes that the industrial sector, although it shuts down for part of August will see high demand for workers before and after.