The following was submitted by Madison Knapp, a student from the US studying abroad in Spain this semester. She’s agreed to give us an up close and personal look at the economic situation in Spain from a young person’s perspective.
With unemployment among youth just shy of 50 percent, upcoming Spanish graduates are preparing for some of the most stressful months of their lives and trying at all costs to not add to the rising percent of unemployed youth.
Some students, despite the current unemployment crisis, are not necessarily worried about finding a job. “I am more worried about finding a job that reflects my skills and education, and not being stuck with a job that I am overqualified for.” Said a 23 year old student who will be graduating this spring. This may seem peculiar, but this student is fortunate enough to be graduating after six years at one of Madrid’s most well-known universities with a Law and Business degree. He is also bilingual, speaking perfect English, which is something that top job recruiters look for in candidates.
One student who attends the same university does not have as much hope when it comes to finding an internship in Spain. She is taking a different route. By using the resources that her study abroad university in the United States provided, she hopes to find an internship overseas.
It is hard for other students with the same skills to leave their home country of Spain and pursue jobs in other countries because of the language barrier.
On the other end of the spectrum, are the average students that feel the crisis in full force. A 26 year old Frenchman who moved to Segovia, Spain two years ago after receiving a summer internship was disappointed but not surprised when he was told that the firm could not offer him a job, despite his excellent performance. With the current crisis, he was very appreciative to have his new job as a waiter at a small Turkish restaurant. He always made sure that his clients are well taken care of and receive the best service, for he cannot afford to lose this job. “Students with their masters are waiters, and students with their doctorates are chefs,” was how he described finding a job even with an education in Spain.
To add to the confusion and uncertainty with regards to the youth’s future, Spain is looking to make some labor reforms, changing the severance package for terminated employees from 45 days pay to 33 days pay for every year of service. This reform is not being accepted with open arms. Massive petitions occurred all over Spain last weekend, with the biggest occurring in Madrid and Barcelona. Some say that it is unfair and others say that it is just a way to replace old workers with new ones, not necessarily created new jobs.