Barcelona at a Glance
Working in Barcelona
123RFThe city's ideal location and stable economy are just two of the reasons for working in Barcelona.
Working in Barcelona: The Economy
Without a doubt, expats working in Barcelona benefit from the city’s convenient location right on the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona has in fact been a major hub for business and trade for centuries. Thus, expats with plans on working in Barcelona’s trading and manufacturing industries may have found just the right place. However, aside from the city’s traditional sectors, tourism and culture are also on the rise. After all, Barcelona is considered a major center for art, architecture, and design.
Working in Barcelona allows expats to contribute significantly to Spain’s income. After all, Barcelona alone generates a quarter of Spain’s GDP. The greater Barcelona region boasts a large local market. The highly diversified structure of its economy and the weight of its industrial base turn the city into a culturally and industrially vibrant center. In 2010, more than 14 million tourists visited the city of Barcelona.
Working in Barcelona: Key Sectors
While you are working in Barcelona, you will quickly realize that the tertiary sector plays an important role within Barcelona’s economy, mostly because it provides most jobs in the city. Aside from the tertiary sector, manufacturing is a major industry in Barcelona. However, there are other fields which contribute significantly to Barcelona’s economy. In this section, we are introducing some of these sectors to expats working in Barcelona.
Working in Barcelona: ICT Sector
The ICT sector is considered one of the major contributors to Barcelona’s economy. The sector combines IT and telecommunication with audiovisual systems which make up new ICT applications. The ICT sector is highly productive. With over 1,700 companies and 155 research institutes, Catalonia and particularly Barcelona make up a major ICT hub. Working in Barcelona’s ICT sector gives you a particular advantage as you benefit from social, commercial, institutional and educational programs in Barcelona.
Working in Barcelona: Biotechnology
Although the biotechnology sector is still developing in Barcelona, it has grown significantly throughout the last five years. The pharmaceutical and chemical industries in Catalonia are closely linked to this sector. Most of the 204 companies working in Barcelona’s biotechnology sector have settled in the region within the last five years. The entire sector has grown by about 30% in recent years.
Expats, who are curious about the biotechnology sector, have made the right choice working in Barcelona. After all, Catalonia is an important location in terms of pharmaceutical development. About 50% of pharmaceutical labs, 60% of the production, and 66% of all companies working in this field are located in Catalonia. Here, expats who plan on working in Barcelona will also find Spain’s main pharmaceutical companies: Almirall Prodesfarma, Esteve, Ferrer Internacional, and Uriach.
Working in Barcelona: Agriculture
Catalonia and the greater Barcelona region are among the leading agriculture clusters within Europe. The sector accounts for 11.8% of all Spanish companies, 23.4% of operating revenue, and 20.4% of employment. Are you curious about working in Barcelona’s agriculture industry? You have come to the right place. This strategic sector within the Catalan economy makes for 15% of the country’s overall turnover.
Barcelona’s Infrastructure and Work Force
The city’s infrastructure is another aspect adding to the popularity of working in Barcelona. For instance, Barcelona International Airport connects Catalonia to all major centers within Europe. However, it also handles flights to many international destinations, such as Singapore, Tel Aviv, or New York. With a €5 billion budget and big extension plans, the airport is prone to grow even further. Moreover, Barcelona offers excellent connections via train on different domestic routes.
Barcelona boasts a multicultural workforce, as 13% of its population comes from a country other than Spain. Thus, the majority of people working in Barcelona not only speak a language other than Spanish, they also adapt perfectly to the global environment of the city. Most expats working in Barcelona are employed in the services sector. The abundance of private and public education institutions produce a very well-educated work force.
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