Spain

Learn more about Eurofound's national-level research and connections with individual countries.

Eurofound provides research, data and analysis on a wide range of social and work-related topics. This information is largely comparative, but also offers country-specific information for each of the EU Member States. This page contains information, research and data for Spain.

Plaza Major in Madrid - the capital of Spain
Rural landscape in Spain - old buildings by a river

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Spain. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions, actors and relevant regulations regarding working life.

This includes indicators, data and regulatory systems on the following aspects: actors and institutions, collective and individual employment relations, health and well-being, pay, working time, skills and training, and equality and non-discrimination at work. The profiles are systematically updated every two years.

Comparative data on working life

This section presents comparative data on GDP per capita and the employment and unemployment rates for men, women and young people in this country and the EU27.

Background

This section describes the current context regarding the economy, labour market and industrial relations landscape. It summarises developments in recent years, including new and amended legislation, changes in industrial structures and trends in labour relations.

Actors and institutions

This section provides details of the main trade unions, employer organisations and public institutions involved in shaping and governing industrial relations. It addresses representativeness on both the employee and employer sides and discusses the main bipartite and tripartite bodies involved in labour relations.

Collective bargaining

This section looks at the collective governance of work and employment, focusing on the bargaining system and levels on which it operates, the percentage of workers covered by wage bargaining, extension and derogation mechanisms, and other aspects of working life addressed in collective agreements.

Industrial action and disputes

This section examines recent developments in industrial action, indicating the number of working days lost to strikes. It discusses the legal and institutional – both collective and individual – mechanisms used to resolve disputes and the circumstances in which they can be used.

Individual employment relations

This section focuses on the employment relationship – from start to termination – between the individual worker and the employer, covering the employment contract, entitlements and obligations, dismissal and termination procedures, and statutory arrangements regarding sick leave and retirement.

Eurofound monitors developments in working life in all EU Member States and Norway. This information is complemented with specialised data collections via our surveys, on policy measures, on restructuring events, on initiatives relating to the platform economy, and country-specific publications.

This section provides information on Eurofound's Management Board members and the Network of Eurofound Correspondents (NEC).

Eurofound's Management Board is made up of representatives of the social partners and national governments of all Member States, European Commission representatives and an independent expert appointed by the European Parliament.

The Network of Eurofound Correspondents reports on topics related to developments in the country's working life and inform Eurofound's pan-European comparative analysis.

Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB-QUIT)

Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB-QUIT)

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is a leading university providing quality teaching in a wide variety of courses that meet the needs of society and are adapted to the new models of the Europe of Knowledge. UAB is internationally renowned for its quality and innovation in research.
Notus Investigación Social Aplicada

Notus Investigación Social Aplicada

Notus, Applied Social Research Center, develops research activities using scientifically rigorous methodologies with an interdisciplinary approach with the aim of providing technical assistance to public and private sector actors committed to employment and labour relations, qualifications and training, local development, poverty, social inclusion and gender.
IKEI Research & Consultancy

IKEI Research & Consultancy

IKEI is a consulting and advisory firm that partners with both public administrations and private sector organisations to boost competitiveness and foster sustainable, long-term advantages through comprehensive services. The company operates in the fields of economic sciences, business administration, engineering, sociology and systems.
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European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies