Aitor Hermoso starts his mornings preparing machinery and handling fresh cuts of meat at a sausage factory in Zamora. Just a year ago, he had never held a job and was unsure about his future. Now, at 20, he has a permanent contract and a sense of direction that once seemed out of reach.
Like many young Spaniards, Aitor faced a familiar obstacle: employers often demand experience that newcomers simply do not have. The early-2026 estimate cited here puts youth unemployment in Spain at 24.54%. Later figures from Spain’s Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) show that the unemployment rate for people under 25 was 23.77% in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 9.87% for the workforce overall. The INE’s quarterly figures also show the youth rate falling from 34.6% in the second quarter of 2018, while employment across all ages rose from about 19.34 million to 22.78 million over the same period. Eurostat’s separate monthly series put youth unemployment at about 22.7% in August 2026. Its monthly, seasonally adjusted figures cover a different period and are not directly interchangeable with the INE’s quarterly survey.
Opening Doors Through Training
Aitor’s turning point came when he joined the Centro Menesiano Zamora Joven, part of the Incorpora program run by Fundación “la Caixa”. There, he began a personalized employment pathway, working with counselors to identify his interests and build the skills needed for the job market. Incorpora delivers employment and socioeducational support through partner organizations. Its assistance can include identifying individual needs and preparing people for work, while building the skills needed to stay employed.
He enrolled in a course for polyvalent operators in the food industry, despite having no prior knowledge of the sector. The training introduced him to the workings of the meat industry and led to an internship at Melquíades, a local company specializing in sausage production. Both program staff and company managers noted his commitment from the outset.
From Internship to Permanent Contract
Throughout his internship, Aitor received ongoing support from Incorpora staff, who tracked his progress and helped him address challenges as he adapted to factory life. After completing his placement, Melquíades offered him a temporary contract. Within months, his reliability and ability to work independently convinced the company to make his position permanent.
Now, Aitor operates specialized machinery to prepare various types of sausages and hangs them for curing. He credits his colleagues for their support. One even drives him to work each day from Zamora, helping him overcome transportation hurdles that might otherwise have jeopardized his job.
New Prospects at Home and Beyond
Receiving his first paycheck has changed more than Aitor’s daily routine. He can now contribute to household expenses and is starting to consider living on his own. “Now I can have a life project,” he says, reflecting on the stability and hope his job has brought.
The Incorpora program facilitates nearly 40,000 job placements each year for people facing barriers to employment, with over 9,000 of those opportunities going to young people. Fundación “la Caixa” also supports a range of social initiatives, reaching more than 140,000 young people and children, including adolescents, annually.
Stories like Aitor’s echo the experiences of other young Spaniards finding unconventional paths to stability and independence. Lorena, for example, is a natural medicine therapist who turned her camper van into both a home and a workspace, showing how young people are redefining work and life in Spain. Her journey is detailed in this feature on mobile living and entrepreneurship.
