If your company operates in the industrial sector, you have most likely already noticed it: finding qualified technical personnel is becoming increasingly difficult. This is not merely a perception — it is backed by data. The metal sector needs to fill up to 350,000 positions over the coming years, and by 2030, four out of every six workers in the sector will be over 50 years of age.
In this context, knowing which sectors have the greatest demand for specialist technical personnel is essential in order to anticipate needs and make strategic decisions in good time. These are the most significant in 2026.
1. Automotive Industry
Spain is one of the major European powers in the automotive sector. Cities such as Vigo, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valencia and Valladolid concentrate a large share of the activity, with a constant demand for welders, maintenance technicians and industrial assemblers.
It is a sector that demands pace, precision and profiles with genuine experience on production lines. The incorporation of new technologies and the manufacture of electric vehicles is also generating new requirements for technical profiles adapted to new processes.
2. Industrial Boilermaking and Chemical Industry
Industrial boilermaking and pipe welding is one of the most specialised areas of the sector, with significant activity in industrial projects, chemicals, energy and large-scale technical maintenance facilities. It is also one of the best-remunerated fields, precisely because the profiles it requires are difficult to find.
Chemical and petrochemical companies require technicians with specific certifications, experience with pressure vessels and a thorough knowledge of strict safety regulations. A scarce and highly sought-after profile.
In 2026, the metal sector needs to fill up to 350,000 positions. Those who plan ahead will have the advantage; those who do not will pay the price of failing to find the professional they need.
3. Aerospace
The aerospace sector is one of the most demanding in terms of quality and technical precision. TIG welding is highly sought after in this sector for its precision and ability to work with materials such as aluminium and specific alloys.
Spain has a growing aerospace industry, particularly in Andalusia, Madrid and the Basque Country, where demand for specialist technicians with international approvals and certifications is high and constant.
4. Renewable Energy
The energy transition is generating a growing demand for industrial technical personnel. The construction and maintenance of wind farms, solar plants and other renewable energy infrastructure requires welders, boilermakers and assembly technicians with experience in large-scale metal structures.
In 2026, it is not only the renewables sector itself that is growing: everything that reduces energy costs and complies with current environmental regulations is expanding. And behind every installation there are specialist technical teams.
5. Industrial Maintenance
This is perhaps the sector with the greatest cross-sector demand. All industries, without exception, require maintenance technicians. Spanish industry is increasingly seeking qualified profiles for areas such as industrial maintenance, automation, mechanics and electronics.
Industrial maintenance is establishing itself as a stable sector driven by automation, predictive maintenance and generational renewal. And as in other technical sectors, the shortage of qualified candidates is one of the main challenges facing companies today.
6. Metal Construction and Industrial Works
The construction of industrial buildings, metal structures and large infrastructure projects remains a sector with high demand for welders and assemblers. The Basque Country stands out in particular for its metallurgical tradition and its powerful heavy industry, with abundant activity in boilermaking, machinery manufacturing, metal structures and industrial maintenance.
It is a sector where technical versatility is highly valued: professionals capable of adapting to different processes, materials and working environments are the most sought-after.
What do all these sectors have in common?
The answer is straightforward: all of them require specialist technical personnel and all of them have difficulty finding it. The SEPE Labour Market Report confirms that in manufacturing industries there is difficulty in filling vacancies for welders, boilermakers, mechanical technicians and panel beaters, amongst other profiles.
At MetalBraga, we have been supplying specialist labour to industrial companies throughout Spain for many years. We know these sectors from the inside and have the technical profiles they require: TIG, MIG and arc welders, boilermakers, maintenance technicians and industrial assemblers.
If your company operates in any of these sectors and needs to strengthen its team, contact us. We would be delighted to help!