Figures Show This Was the Best March Ever for Spanish Job Creation

Figures Show This Was the Best March Ever for Spanish Job Creation

Great news for spain as a whole

When it comes to Spanish job creation, all of the projections from economists are positive when it comes to the year ahead. Many experts are confident that Spanish unemployment could dip below 17%; making it the first time this has happened in years.

Data from the Labour Ministry of Spain was published this week that shows why there is such certainty about this recovery. The figures for March show that Spain created more jobs this March than in any other March since records began.

A total of 48,500 Spaniards entered the workforce in March, with the figure soaring above 392,000 for the past 12 months. This equates to everybody in a mid-sized city being given a brand-new job.

Eurostat suggest that the figure could be even higher. They feel that over half a million Spaniards have entered the working world over the past year; which is the equivalent of the entire population of Malaga.

The total amount of Spaniards not working has dropped down to just four million. The most striking thing is that, during the past 12 months, some 1.2 million new jobs were created in the entire 19-member strong Eurozone. This would mean that Spain was responsible for around half of everyone employed during this time period.

There are a wider range of jobs on offer in the country too. The amount of indefinite contracts has risen by 18% across the past year, outperforming growth in the temporary employment sector; which increased 14.5%. This would appear to symbolise a growing confidence in the long-term growth of the country.

As far as industries go; it was the construction sector of Spain that had the best growth in March. The construction sector was responsible for some 2.44% of the jobs created; putting it ahead of every other sector.

Spain is the Place to Be This Spring and Here are Three Reasons Why

Spain is the Place to Be This Spring and Here are Three Reasons Why

Spain is a fantastic place to be all the year around

One could forgive expats living in Spain for their ever-present grins. It’s true that there isn’t a place on earth that is free from the ups, downs, and pressures of life. It’s also true that nowhere could be considered truly perfect. There’s a good chance, however, that if you’ve created a life for yourself in Spain then you’ve likely been happy, smiling, active, and feeling generally good most of the time.

The feeling of being in Spain is almost addictive. It’s impossible to not tell your friends about it, even though it will probably just inspire jealousy. The reality of Spain is that it delivers incredible quality of life. While there are some challenges that come with being an expat, it’s understandable that you would want to share why you feel the decision you made was right with the world.

With all that said, we believe Spain is the place to be this Spring, and here are three reasons why.

No Political Bluster

If you were to flick on the news or look at a news website, you’d likely find yourself staring at Donald Trump, Theresa May, Marine Le Pen, or Angela Merkel. 2017 really picked up where 2016 left off as far as headlines filled with vociferous political discourse. It seems almost every headline involves the Brexit, travel bans, posturing from the far-right or, for whatever reason, Angela Merkel and her hands.

Spaniards and the expats living in Spain understand what it’s like to be bogged down by political news. Last year the country was plagued with an election saga that lasted for much longer than most would consider healthy. This year, however, Spanish politics have quietened down. The country finally has a prime minister, the economy is doing well, and things appear to be going to just fine.

The Sound Economy

There is one benefit of staying up to date on politics. That is knowing the difference between real and fake news. One key piece of fake news plaguing Spain is the idea that the Spanish economy is still struggling.

The fact of the matter is that 2016 was an incredible year in which the GDP of Spain grew over 3%. Spain has become the fastest growing economy in Spain. It’s expected the country will see similar growth this year, which has done wonders for unemployment and the real estate industry. The result is that expats can expect it will be easier for them to get a job and a house.

The Easter Festivities

With the weather warming up – reaching temperatures of 20 degrees already in southern Spain – the country comes to life thanks to the bright sunlight and lapping shores of the Mediterranean. The emergence of Spring brings with it millions of tourists who flock to the Costa del Sol for a taste of sunshine. There are only a few weeks left until all the restaurants, bars, beaches, and hotels become full.

Easter is perhaps the major attraction that marks the transition of Spain into warmer summer days. Easter is a major deal in Andalucía, from Seville and Cádiz, to Malaga and all the small towns in-between. The Easter festivities are a great way for expats to sample a taste of Spain.

Spain Named the Safest, Cleanest, and Cheapest Holiday Destination in the World

Spain Named the Safest, Cleanest, and Cheapest Holiday Destination in the World

With the wonderful climate and outstanding food

no wonder Spain is considered the best

country in the world.

The World Economic Forum released their biannual Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report last week, naming Spain as the best country in the world for tourism.

The comprehensive study ranks 138 countries around the world on a range of factors. The main aim of the report is to rank the safety, cleanliness, affordability, leisure options, and accessibility of each nation.

Spain edged ahead of Germany and France this time when it came to destinations for global travellers thanks to several factors.

The World Economic Forum said that one of the reasons Spain came in first was because the country places such a heavy emphasis on tourism. The report praised Spain for how hard the country works to provide high quality airports and air travel, incredible cultural resources, comprehensive tourist-based infrastructure. The country has also become a popular hub for business travel.

Coupled with the natural attractions of the country – the beaches, weather, landscape, and location of the country – it all goes together to make Spain unbeatable.

The World Economic Forum measures all of the factors and policies that allow for the continued development of travel and tourism, which contributes to how well a country develops and competes.

It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Spain has officially been recognised as having the best tourism reputation in the world. Spain has been the most visited country in the world for the past few years. Success begets success, as more and more holidaymakers head to the country there’s more word-of-mouth recommendations than ever before. The authorities of Spain have also taken all the steps needed to ensure the country stays special.

Second place went to France, with Germany coming third, Japan coming fourth, and the UK coming in at fifth. Despite the drab weather of the UK, the country performed well on cultural and historical attractions, as well as tourism services.

The top ten was rounded out by the USA, Australia, Italy, Canada, and Switzerland.

Latest Data Finds Spain is Home to 30% of Vineyards in EU by Area

Latest Data Finds Spain is Home to 30% of Vineyards in EU by Area

Spanish wine has always been placed in a bit of a unique position by the wine drinkers of the world.

Spanish wines have long been considered the best in Europe

It’s not quite as traditional or exceptional as French wine, nor is it as romantic as Italian wine. It doesn’t carry the buzz of the New World wines of Chile, South Africa, and Australia. Spanish wine is the kind of wine you take with you for a housewarming party. It says you aren’t cheap, but that you aren’t going to splash out either because your friends have a new house.

This “everyman” nature of Spanish isn’t a bad thing however. It is because of this that Spain has become the largest wine producer in the European Union, according to data released by Eurostat this week. The data shows that Spanish vineyards account for 30% of vineyards in the EU.

With 940,000 hectares, Spain has a larger area of vineyards than any other member of the EU. France came in second with 803,000 hectares (25%), with Italy snatching third with its 610,000 (19%). Portugal was a distant fourth, with only 199,000 (6%).

There’s an interesting statistic hidden in the data. Romania – which is the fifth-largest wine producer with 184,000 hectares – is also the EU country with the most individual wineries. There are 855,000 wineries in Romania, putting it well ahead of Spain, which came in second with 518,000 wineries.

Spain is still one of the most important producers of plonk in the EU however, as grapes from Spain are used not just in Spanish wine, but also in French and Italian wines. The Castilla-la-Mancha region of Spain is the largest wine producing region; housing 434,000 hectares – 14% of the entire vineyard area of the EU. The other large regions are Languedoc-Roussillon (293,000 hectares) and Aquitaine (144,000 hectares) which are in France.

The EU has a total of 3.2 million hectares of vineyards spread among 2.4 million individual sites. Most nations in the EU have some vineyards at least, all the way from Romania to the UK (553 vineyards) and Luxemburg (326 vineyards).

There are a few EU countries with absolutely no vineyards. They include Belgium – which has beer, Ireland – which has Guinness, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania – where the weather is too cold, Poland, Finland, and Sweden – with similar weather issues, and, perhaps most surprisingly, the Netherlands.

Seaside Resort, Inland, or the City? The Choice is Yours With Spanish Property

Seaside Resort, Inland, or the City? The Choice is Yours With Spanish Property

The choice where to live in Andalucía is endless

Malaga has undergone an incredible transformation in the past few years; taking it from an airport hub to one of the premier cities in the world. The change has been welcome news for the Andalusians. They spent far too long watching their second-largest city being criminally overlooked by tourists, the media, and even their fellow Spaniards. It seemed everyone was more interested in the (admittedly beautiful) vistas and the rich history of cities such as Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, and Sevilla.

Malaga has managed to become a genuine attraction of its own though, and a real choice for people interested in buying a home in southern Spain. The city offers lower property prices than can be found in the rest of the Costa del Sol, and there are amenities all over the place to make for comfortable living.

With this said, Malaga remains as Spanish as can be. It is a city that is often loud and brash. If you have plans of living in Spain, then you should understand what you’re getting yourself in for and what you expect from the overseas life. The good news is that the Costa del Sol offers and appeals to all personalities. There’s room for everyone, from the introverted to the outgoing, and from the cautious to the ones eager to dive headfirst into life abroad.

If you want to live in the Costa del Sol, then you essentially have three choices; living on a seaside resort, in a city, or on an island. So, which one is right for you?

If you love the outdoors, then you want to head inland.

The Costa del Sol is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of hills and mountains. This photogenic backdrop looks incredible when you’re living at sea level. Even so, you will have to go into the hills for yourself to see what’s really on offer. The landscape is dotted with tiny whitewashed villages that take you back to a bygone age, giving you a taste of the “real Spain” – cute bakeries, quiet plazas, dusty bodegas, and some small but clean housing.

The true appeal of living on the Spanish inland can be found beyond the small clusters of Spanish life. The landscape offers beautiful and impressive sights such as lakes and forests, but what is really appealing is the relationship the Spanish have with their surroundings. The Andalucían inland is ideal for those who want to hike, trek on horseback, ride their bikes, or simply just surround themselves with the peace and quiet of nature.

If you love culture, then the city is right for you.

Even though we feel it’s obvious, we also feel it has to be said; there are many positives about the Costa del Sol, but it has a serious lack of historical culture. You can find Old Towns in Estepona, Marbella, and San Pero, but Malaga is where you want to go for major architectural sights. From the Bullring to the hilltop castle of Gibralfaro, Malaga is jam-packed with history.

This taste of history is pushed to the next level as the backstreets of the city are packed with museums, bars, art galleries, shops, and restaurants. The city is a sprawling metropolis that offers something good for everyone. Don’t forget that there is a beach running alongside it, making for the ultimate cherry on top.

If you want fun in the sun, then head for a seaside resort.

There is so much choice when it comes to property along the Costa del Sol it’s enough to make your head spin. You have Marbella, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Benahavis, Manilva, San Pedro, and Benalmádena. All of these locations have their own charms, leisure facilities, urbanisations, and nightlife. Each of these places is also likely to appeal to absolutely everyone from full families to retired couples.

If you’re looking for a combination of beachside living and spacious, affordable accommodation, along with easy accessibility to the rest of the Costa del Sol, then you want to live on the coast. Another positive for the coast is that – as it has always been the perennial favourite of many British and other expats – there are plenty of international schools and sports clubs. It’s also the easiest place in Spain for those with little to no knowledge of the Spanish language to settle in and adjust to.

Data Forecasts Spanish Unemployment Drops Below 17% for First Time in Years

Data Forecasts Spanish Unemployment Drops Below 17% for First Time in Years

Its official when the economy is moving in the right

direction unemployment drops drastically

Spain saw unemployment soar to the record rate of 27% in 2013, but is now looking at ending 2017 with less than 17% unemployment for the first time in years.

While there is still the myth that the Spanish economy is still stagnant, official figures from government and European bodies show that Spain has been one of the strongest economic performers in the continent for the past 18 months now.

While 17% unemployment could still be considered pretty high, in relative terms it means Spain is on course for another year of strong economic growth. The rate of unemployment fell to 18.6% in 2016, and it’s predicted that it could fall another 2% during 2017; which would mean over half a million more people in work.

This was the message spread by the Spanish Economic Minister Luis de Guindos last week. The Economic Minister admitted that the unemployment rate in the country was still inadequate, but was still very bullish overall on the long-term prospects.

Economic growth topped 3.2% GDP in 2016, with similar levels of growth expected for this year, and a further +2.5% growth expected for the next four years. The queues in the job centre are getting shorter, and thousands of educated Spanish youth are returning from Germany, the UK, and wherever else they have been, creating what economists feel is more of an opportunity than a burden.

Youth unemployment in Spain is still one of the highest in Europe, reaching over 25%, but there has been plenty of recovery in other industries; evident by the rising number of Spaniards being issued with mortgages. This has left the Spanish youth more confident about their chances of securing a bright future in their home country.

Leading Bank Predicts 2.5% Rise in Spanish Property Prices This Year

Leading Bank Predicts 2.5% Rise in Spanish Property Prices This Year

The future is looking bright for property owners in Spain

Leading bank BBVA – in their latest property market analysis – predicted Spanish property prices are due for an average increase of 2.5% this year, with the Spanish economy continuing to improve and the number of unsold homes continuing to dwindle.

Conditions as far as both metrics went improved drastically during 2016. It’s expected that Spanish GDP will grow another 3% during this year, putting many domestic and international buyers alike in the perfect position to buy their Spanish home in 2017.

BBVA bank also expects that – as a result of low mortgage rates and reduced numbers of unsold properties – that more property transactions will take place this year. It might not be as sharp as the 13.5% increase from 2016 (which some experts believe could be actually be as high as 19%), but it will still be impressive.

All in all, it’s expected that over half a million properties could be sold in Spain during 2017, with many of these purchases financed through Spanish mortgages. BBVA did issue a warning that these low interest rates aren’t forever, and are already expected a downturn in the amount of mortgages issued in 2018 as interest rates start crawling up.