Even though it is more famous for its touristic industry, Spain is also a tech hub, with major cities, such as Barcelona and Madrid, rapidly growing in the tech industry.
Tech jobs are currently one of the most dynamic sectors in the labor market, with recruiters looking for talents worldwide to fulfill the companies’ constant needs of workforces.
With so many tech-related job opportunities, many people are considering relocating to the country to work there and enjoy a living abroad experience in some of the most amazing cities in Europe.
In fact, there are many Spanish language school Madrid that offer courses for ex-pats who arrive in the city for working or studying purposes and need to improve their language skills before looking for a job or starting the academic year.
Expanish is one of the most reputable Spanish schools in Madrid and Barcelona that offers different programs and courses for residents and ex-pats to learn Spanish and start working or studying in Spain efficiently. At this school, it is also possible to prepare to take Spanish exams, such as DELE Exam.
If you are considering relocating to Spain, keep reading to learn more about the Spanish tech sector and which companies offer the best job opportunities.
Spanish ICT sector
According to official reports, Spain’s tech sector has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country in the last decade.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector had a revenue of 120 billion euros, representing a 3.8% of the Spanish GDP (Groos Domestic Product).
After restrictions were lifted, the sector is recovering fast, hitting its pre-pandemic numbers by June 2021, with a strong government commitment to achieving digitalization goals through the Digital Spain Plan 2025 that promotes the development of technologies such as 5G, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence.
Spain has massive internet coverage, reaching 95% of the population accessing it in 2020, and has the most extensive domestic fiber network in the European Union, with 172.000 mobile base stations and almost 55 million mobile phones.
Another interesting factor in developing the Spanish tech sector is that Spain will receive up to 140 billion euros between 2021 and 2026 from the European Union Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. These funds are aimed at industry modernization and digitalization and promoting entrepreneurship within the country.
The public policies implemented to promote the development of the sector have encouraged many leading multinational tech companies to establish in the country in the past decades. Nowadays, there are many facilities for tech companies willing to establish themselves in Spain.
As a result, the tech sector is currently a profitable business, with many significant players investing in the country and new job opportunities in the field.
Barcelona and Madrid tech sector
Barcelona definitely takes the first place when talking about tech hubs in Spain. Considered the most vibrant startup city in Spain, the Catalonian capital has concentrated the startup activity in the country for a long time.
Furthermore, many reviewers claim that Barcelona is not only the biggest Spanish startup city but also a European center for innovation. According to the Eu-Startups ranking, Barcelona has taken fifth place in the ranking of European startup hubs for five four years, clearly showing its power within the continent.
Nevertheless, Madrid is also emerging as a tech hub over the last five years. Currently, almost 1500 startups are established in the Spanish capital. Even though most of them are small companies, they are setting a promising future for the city which growth rate in the sector is astonishing.
Major tech companies in Spain
The companies listed below are the leading tech business in Spain.
1. Indra
Located in Madrid, Indra Sistemas S.A. is the leading Spanish tech company in the country. In addition, Indra is a top IT multinational, ranked as one of the most important European companies in the tech sector.
Its main business areas are transport and defense markets, digital transformation consultancy, and information technologies.
Indra is one of the world’s largest suppliers of air traffic control systems and an essential worldwide supplier of ticketing systems for rapid transit systems.
Regarding job opportunities, Indra job openings are most likely for software engineer profiles, project managers, and programming analysts.
2. IBM
Located in Barcelona, IBM is an American multinational technology corporation with a long trajectory in the business.
Founded in 1911, the company produces computer hardware and software and provides hosting services.
Project managers, system technicians, and payroll analysts are the latest positions opened by this company that is constantly growing and looking for talents to join the company.
3. Vodafone
Located in Madrid, Vodafone is a British telecommunications company that provides services to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
Vodafone was founded in 1991 as Racal Telecom and later adopted the actual name, which comes from Voice Data Fone.
Digital Analysts, Specialist IT Design and Development, Data Governance Development, and Specialist Technical Presales are among the positions open now.
4. Amazon
Amazon is a multinational technology company dedicated to e-commerce, streaming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cloud computing.
Founded in 1994, the company has expanded considerably, becoming one of the most important companies in the world.
Since it is one of the biggest companies in the world, the company is constantly recruiting tech talents, such as software engineers, hardware development, Data Science, software development, and business intelligence.
To sum up, aside from being a country with many stunning destinations, Spain is also becoming a tech hub, with Barcelona taking first place in the ranking and Madrid experimenting with astonishing growth in the sector. Consequently, many are considering relocating to the country and working at one of the tech companies in Madrid or Barcelona while enjoying its beauty and fantastic weather. Taking a Spanish course for ex-pats first is a great way to improve Spanish skills before starting a new job.
