Catalonia launches a new round of civil service exams, offering 1,325 positions. Most roles are administrative. The process follows recent reforms after past exam disruptions and aims to restore predictability.
This weekend, Catalonia is holding one of its largest public sector recruitment drives in recent years, as almost 16,000 candidates sit competitive exams for 1,325 civil service positions across the region. The Generalitat’s latest call, part of a renewed effort to stabilize hiring processes, focuses mainly on administrative roles and is being conducted simultaneously in Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona.
Barcelona is the epicenter of the selection process, with nearly 11,000 applicants—about 70% of the total—taking their exams in the city. The remaining candidates are distributed among Girona (1,567), Lleida (1,534), and Tarragona (1,770). More than 1,200 public employees have been mobilized to ensure the decentralized exams run smoothly, reflecting lessons learned from previous disruptions.
The majority of available positions are in administrative bodies, including 376 openings for the higher administrative corps (with 3,682 applicants), 366 for the standard administrative corps (4,260 applicants), 228 for subaltern roles (1,798 applicants), and 114 for auxiliary administrative staff (2,459 applicants). The competition also covers technical and specialist profiles in areas such as public health, veterinary services, psychology, pedagogy, social work, and engineering.
Women make up a significant majority of the applicant pool, accounting for over 71% of those registered, compared to just over 28% men. The Generalitat has emphasized that, following the arrival of the PSC in government in 2024, it has maintained a regular calendar for civil service exams. The current round follows two major calls: one in October 2024 (1,260 positions) and another between March and April 2025 (1,808 positions).
Successful candidates will be required to complete a mandatory, non-eliminatory training course in the first quarter of 2027. This program, set by the Department of Presidency, aims to strengthen digital skills, institutional organization, and public service values, ensuring new hires are equipped for their roles.
The government’s stated goal is to establish a predictable and transparent cycle of recruitment, attracting new talent and avoiding the instability that marred previous processes. The memory of the chaotic extraordinary exams in April 2023 still lingers, when outsourcing to a private company led to hours-long delays, exam distribution errors, and widespread logistical failures. The fallout included exam cancellations, disciplinary action against the contractor, and the dismissal of the then-director general of Public Function, Marta Martorell.
Efforts to restore order to Catalonia’s public sector hiring come as the region continues to address administrative challenges. In a related move, the Generalitat recently allocated €30 million to identify families missing out on social aid, as detailed in a previous report on targeted welfare initiatives.
For context, Catalonia’s civil service exams are among the most competitive in Spain, with thousands vying for limited posts each year. The decentralized approach, now standard after past controversies, is designed to minimize disruptions and ensure fair access across the territory. The current recruitment cycle is seen as a test of the Generalitat’s ability to deliver on its promise of stability and transparency in public employment.
