SPAIN'S headcount has risen to its highest figure in history – for the first time ever, the population has broken the 48 million barrier.
Retail giants seeking extra staff for Christmas: Up to 1.15 million new jobs nationwide
18/11/2019
MAJOR high-street retailers are already advertisings for extra Christmas staff more than a month away from the 'big day' – and, in fact, it's a time of year when around 1.15 million new job contracts are signed, according to recruitment agency Adecco.
Online shopping giant Amazon, which has logistics, business support and delivery centres in Madrid and Barcelona, along with national department store El Corte Inglés, and low-cost supermarket Alcampo are among those who need additional employees to cover the period from late November through to when stocks run out after the January sales.
Although all retailers are now, by law, allowed to hold sales whenever they wish, the majority stick to tradition and hold theirs in the summer and after Christmas, with more and more – even local family-run outlets – opting to join in with 'Black Friday' at the end of November.
In the past, the post-Christmas sales would start on January 7, the day after the bank holiday for the Three Kings – on the eve of which children across Spain receive the bulk of their presents – but in recent years, many stores have opted to start their sales on Boxing Day, which is not a national holiday, in order to boost business ahead of the Epiphany gift-giving.
Typically, sale items do not entirely shift until early February, meaning the festive jobs will run for around two to three months.
Some will be part-time, meaning those who already work part-time or who are self-employed may be able to combine them with their existing activities to supplement their income over what is typically the most expensive time of the year.
Overall, says Adecco, the number of Christmas jobs on offer is up by 7.3% on last year, a positive sign for traders and the economy in general as it shows more activity in the retail sector and companies prepared to spend a little more on staff.
Amazon is seeking to cover 4,600 vacancies to reinforce its logistics and delivery centres – a chance, says operations manager for Spain, France and Italy Fred Pattie, to get some valuable training in the field, which will give candidates a better chance of finding work in logistics and distribution at other times of the year.
In practice, though, hundreds of temporary Christmas employees every year end up being taken on full-time on a fixed contract by the company.
Jobs are available in five logistics centres, two urban logistics centres, 11 packaging and delivery offices across the country, and two distribution hubs.
In addition to the 4,600 over Christmas, Amazon plans to create 600 new permanent jobs before the end of this year, increasing its current payroll from 4,800 to 5,400.
The company has invested over €1.1 billion in Spain since it launched the national website, Amazon.es, in September 2011.
Applicants can find out more and fill in a form via the website Trabajaenamazon.es.
Alcampo is seeking 1,185 Christmas workers to cover shelf-stacking, sales and check-out desks across the country, of which 300 are in Madrid, 150 in Andalucía, 125 in Catalunya, 110 in Aragón, and also in Galicia, plus 80 in the Comunidad Valenciana, 60 in the Basque Country, 40 on the island of Tenerife and another 40 in Castilla-La Mancha.
Most of the 35 vacancies in Castilla y León are in the province of Burgos, and another 30 each are open in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Island of Las Palmas, Asturias, and La Rioja, whilst in Murcia – which only has one store – and in Navarra, 10 new employees are needed in each.
Applicants can find more details and forms on the websites Auchan-retail.es and Simply.es.
El Corte Inglés needs 9,000 employees for sales and customer service roles in fashion, accessories, home furnishings and decorations, electronics, toys, leisure, sports, food, and other season-specific areas such as gift-wrapping.
To ensure the right people are able to apply even if they do not have experience, the firm has developed a training programme for all newcomers.
Courier firm SEUR, and Spain's national post office Correos, also need almost 5,000 new staff – 2,700 in the case of SEUR, which expects to make around 14 million deliveries as a result of Black Friday, Christmas and the post-Christmas sales.
Most of the vacancies are in Madrid, Catalunya and Andalucía, and are for warehouse staff and delivery drivers.
SEUR says more and more members of the public are opting to do some or all of their Christmas shopping online ahead of the main dates, meaning the postal and courier services will be rushed off their feet.
Applications are taken by registering on the company's website, Seur.com/es/compania/trabaja-con-nosotros.
The national post office is seeking a total of 2,207 new staff for November and December, mostly for distribution and delivery, but also for general back office support.
Correos forecasts an increase in package deliveries of 20.7% for November as a whole, and 21.5% for December.
Luckily for anyone sending or waiting to receive parcels, the likelihood of delays in their reaching their destinations is much more remote than in the UK, which sets a 'last-posting date' to guarantee Christmas arrival – in Spain, there is almost no tradition of sending greetings cards, so mail volume will be practically all parcels.
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MAJOR high-street retailers are already advertisings for extra Christmas staff more than a month away from the 'big day' – and, in fact, it's a time of year when around 1.15 million new job contracts are signed, according to recruitment agency Adecco.
Online shopping giant Amazon, which has logistics, business support and delivery centres in Madrid and Barcelona, along with national department store El Corte Inglés, and low-cost supermarket Alcampo are among those who need additional employees to cover the period from late November through to when stocks run out after the January sales.
Although all retailers are now, by law, allowed to hold sales whenever they wish, the majority stick to tradition and hold theirs in the summer and after Christmas, with more and more – even local family-run outlets – opting to join in with 'Black Friday' at the end of November.
In the past, the post-Christmas sales would start on January 7, the day after the bank holiday for the Three Kings – on the eve of which children across Spain receive the bulk of their presents – but in recent years, many stores have opted to start their sales on Boxing Day, which is not a national holiday, in order to boost business ahead of the Epiphany gift-giving.
Typically, sale items do not entirely shift until early February, meaning the festive jobs will run for around two to three months.
Some will be part-time, meaning those who already work part-time or who are self-employed may be able to combine them with their existing activities to supplement their income over what is typically the most expensive time of the year.
Overall, says Adecco, the number of Christmas jobs on offer is up by 7.3% on last year, a positive sign for traders and the economy in general as it shows more activity in the retail sector and companies prepared to spend a little more on staff.
Amazon is seeking to cover 4,600 vacancies to reinforce its logistics and delivery centres – a chance, says operations manager for Spain, France and Italy Fred Pattie, to get some valuable training in the field, which will give candidates a better chance of finding work in logistics and distribution at other times of the year.
In practice, though, hundreds of temporary Christmas employees every year end up being taken on full-time on a fixed contract by the company.
Jobs are available in five logistics centres, two urban logistics centres, 11 packaging and delivery offices across the country, and two distribution hubs.
In addition to the 4,600 over Christmas, Amazon plans to create 600 new permanent jobs before the end of this year, increasing its current payroll from 4,800 to 5,400.
The company has invested over €1.1 billion in Spain since it launched the national website, Amazon.es, in September 2011.
Applicants can find out more and fill in a form via the website Trabajaenamazon.es.
Alcampo is seeking 1,185 Christmas workers to cover shelf-stacking, sales and check-out desks across the country, of which 300 are in Madrid, 150 in Andalucía, 125 in Catalunya, 110 in Aragón, and also in Galicia, plus 80 in the Comunidad Valenciana, 60 in the Basque Country, 40 on the island of Tenerife and another 40 in Castilla-La Mancha.
Most of the 35 vacancies in Castilla y León are in the province of Burgos, and another 30 each are open in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Island of Las Palmas, Asturias, and La Rioja, whilst in Murcia – which only has one store – and in Navarra, 10 new employees are needed in each.
Applicants can find more details and forms on the websites Auchan-retail.es and Simply.es.
El Corte Inglés needs 9,000 employees for sales and customer service roles in fashion, accessories, home furnishings and decorations, electronics, toys, leisure, sports, food, and other season-specific areas such as gift-wrapping.
To ensure the right people are able to apply even if they do not have experience, the firm has developed a training programme for all newcomers.
Courier firm SEUR, and Spain's national post office Correos, also need almost 5,000 new staff – 2,700 in the case of SEUR, which expects to make around 14 million deliveries as a result of Black Friday, Christmas and the post-Christmas sales.
Most of the vacancies are in Madrid, Catalunya and Andalucía, and are for warehouse staff and delivery drivers.
SEUR says more and more members of the public are opting to do some or all of their Christmas shopping online ahead of the main dates, meaning the postal and courier services will be rushed off their feet.
Applications are taken by registering on the company's website, Seur.com/es/compania/trabaja-con-nosotros.
The national post office is seeking a total of 2,207 new staff for November and December, mostly for distribution and delivery, but also for general back office support.
Correos forecasts an increase in package deliveries of 20.7% for November as a whole, and 21.5% for December.
Luckily for anyone sending or waiting to receive parcels, the likelihood of delays in their reaching their destinations is much more remote than in the UK, which sets a 'last-posting date' to guarantee Christmas arrival – in Spain, there is almost no tradition of sending greetings cards, so mail volume will be practically all parcels.
Related Topics
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