Analysis: navigating the shifting job landscape in Spain’s food & beverage sector

The Spanish food and beverage sector is undergoing a nuanced transformation, marked by post-pandemic recovery, structural shifts in employment, and emerging demographic challenges, according to Randstad Research.

“Labor Market in the Food and Beverage Sector”, prepared by Randstad’s think tank, finds that in 2024, the industry employed 554,000 people — just 0.5% below the previous year — yet this modest decline masks deeper currents shaping the sector’s future.

Beverage manufacturing: the growth engine
While overall employment dipped slightly, beverage manufacturing stood out with a 5.1% growth rate, now representing 12.3% of the sector’s workforce. This segment has not only rebounded to pre-Covid levels but is driving much of the sector’s dynamism. Higher percentages of permanent contracts (91%) and consistency in social security membership point to a maturing employment structure.

Food industry: subtle contractions and reform ripples
The food industry, employing 87.7% of the sector’s workforce, saw a reduction of nearly 6,000 jobs in Q2 2025. However, the impact of labour reforms is evident: temporary employment has dropped to 12.2%, and permanent contracts now dominate. The rise of “fixed-discontinuous” contracts hints at evolving flexibility in workforce management.

Demographics and education: a sector at a crossroads
Generational replacement is emerging as a critical concern. Workers aged 45–54 now outnumber those aged 35–44, and under-34s remain underrepresented — especially in beverage manufacturing. Meanwhile, the share of employees with university degrees is rising, particularly in beverage roles (26%), suggesting a slow but steady shift toward more specialised labour.

Regional concentration and gender dynamics
Catalonia leads the national employment map, accounting for 17.3% of sector activity. Gender trends show a narrowing gap in the food segment, with women now holding 41% of roles. However, male employment still dominates overall, comprising 61% of the workforce.

Strategic takeaway for industry leaders
For food and drink professionals, these employment trends offer both caution and opportunity. The sector’s resilience is clear, but aging demographics, educational gaps, and regional imbalances require proactive workforce planning. Beverage manufacturing’s upward trajectory may serve as a blueprint for innovation-led growth, while the food industry must adapt to shifting labour structures and talent expectations.