Looking for a job: Hello, Me and my family are contemplating moving to the sun.

High unemployment and low wages are waiting. Furthermore, wood is not so widely extended and replaced wherever possible by other materials (aluminium and PVC for windows framing etc.)

Hello, your chances are even slimmer if you don´t have good Spanish. If your children are small, they will fit in well in Spanish schools and will pick up the language well but if older, they will struggle, and private schools are expensive. Sorry to dampen your dreams, but that´s just how it is. Many ex-pats are retirees with pensions who own their homes outright or have good savings.

Thankyou for your replies, my child would be school age by the time we plan to move. And we currently own a property in the uk so would sell and buy a place in Spain. Would the ‘low’ wages be enough for bills and cost of living?

And are there any signs of unemployment being rectified?

I know basic Spanish but would obviously take lessons before and after the move.

It is not really likely that ‘low’ wages would b able to cover cost of living with children. You must also take into account the Spanish legal requirements. Full-time ‘on the cards’ employment is rare due to the high social costs, although of course you may be lucky. There are many perfectly legal ;British’ companies here, catering obviously to the ex-pat community in the main, so lack of Spanish may not be an issue here, but I believe that in the main they sub-contract. However, you would need to register as ‘autonomo’ - ie self-employed, which immediately brings you into the requirements of complying with Social Security rules - and payments - the tax system, which is onerous, and I believe you may also need an official ‘gestor’ who deals with the government on your behalf. Most of the legal firms have been here for many years and have struggled very hard; equally there are quite a few ‘illegal’ ones whom you would do well to avoid. The penalties on both you and your Clients for undertaking ‘cash in hand’ work, without issuing legal invoices or charging IVA are horrendous. There is little sign of improvement in the unemployment situation. Truly, unless you have financial means it really wouldn’t be advisable to throw everything up and move to Spain ‘on the off chance’. It is, unfortunately, a pipe dream for most, the majority of full time residents here are retired with pensions of some kind.

There are many many people looking for work, including young unemployed Spanish, and local firms will employ them first. The rates of pay are in no way comparable to uk rates.

Think very hard before you commit to anything final, but good luck.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. This has given some serious food for thought.

Most people who move to Spain don't have to work. Pensions etc. 

Moving to Spain and earning enough and on a consistent basis to cover living costs is very very unrealistic.

You don't have a unique skill and there are loads of chancers out here "who can turn their hand to most things" ,this drives down costs and reduces what you can earn.

The coast is good for enjoying the sun and beach bars but for setting up your normal life this definitely not the place. There are British companies or subsidiaries where lack of perfect Spanish could be a minor handicap. Perhaps you contact the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain for more information.