PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Madrid, Spain

This report was last updated on Aug 10, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The Software PHP Engineer job market in Spain, particularly in Madrid, reflects significant fluctuations, with a total of 540 job openings over the past three months, yet 440 positions closed, indicating a gap between hiring and retention.
Madrid stands out as the dominant city for hiring Software PHP Engineers, accounting for 67% of total job openings, with a clear indication of its pivotal role in the recruitment landscape.
A healthy distribution of seniority levels for Software PHP positions reveals that mid-senior roles make up 48% of the market, suggesting balanced demand for both experienced and entry-level developers.
The competitive hiring environment underscores the necessity for effective recruitment strategies in Madrid, as the higher number of openings relative to the talent pool poses challenges for securing top-tier Software PHP Developers.
With a median time to hire of 30 days, hiring managers in Madrid should prepare for longer hiring cycles, highlighting the importance of adapting recruitment tactics to meet current market demands.

Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Madrid in the last 3 months

In the Software PHP Engineer job market in Spain's Madrid region, a noticeable fluctuation in job postings has been observed over the past 12 weeks. Job openings surged to 112 in week 21 but plummeted to just 7 by week 23, showcasing the volatility in demand. While a total of 540 Software PHP positions were opened during this period, 440 positions were closed, indicating a concerning gap between hiring and retention. In comparison, the overall hiring trends for Senior Software PHP Developers across Europe's technology landscape reflect a more stable pattern, which prompts hiring managers, CTOs, and recruitment officers to tailor their strategies to attract and retain this talent specifically in Madrid.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Spain:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Bending Spoons	Italy	Information Technology & Services	2013	180
Spain Internship	Spain	Government Administration	2010	100
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	66
Secture	Spain	Information Technology & Services	2017	63
Plexus Tech	Spain	Information Technology & Services	2000	63
Mindrift	United States	Information Technology & Services	null	46
knowmad mood	Spain	Information Technology & Services	1994	42
AD4 Octógono	Spain	Information Technology & Services	null	35
SlashMobility	Spain	Information Technology & Services	2010	31
MediaMarkt España	Spain	Retail	1999	31

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Spain

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Spain

The software engineering job market in Europe demonstrates varying dynamics, particularly for Software PHP Engineers. In Spain, there are numerous job openings relative to the available talent pool, creating a competitive hiring environment for tech leads and CTOs. For instance, while Spain has seen a surge in job postings, countries like Germany and the Netherlands showcase a more balanced ratio between job opportunities and talent supply. In contrast, Poland exhibits a significantly lower talent pool for the number of positions available. Hiring managers in Spain may face challenges in securing top-tier Software PHP Developers, which highlights the need for effective recruitment strategies within Madrid's tech sector.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Madrid

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Madrid

In the Madrid job market for Software PHP Engineers, the distribution of seniority levels reflects a balanced demand for talent. The Mid-Senior level positions comprise 48% of the job offerings, while Associate roles account for 24%. Entry-level opportunities represent 22% of the market, indicating a healthy influx of new talent alongside experienced professionals.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Spain

In the Spanish software development job market, the distribution of employment types reveals a strong preference for full-time positions, comprising 97% of the available engineering roles. Contract roles account for 3% of the market, while part-time opportunities represent less than 2%. This data highlights the dominance of full-time employment as the primary model for Software PHP Engineers in Spain, particularly in cities like Madrid, aligning with current hiring trends.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Spain

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Software PHP Engineers in Spain indicates a prevalent trend towards longer hiring cycles, with 1,861 cases taking 30 days or longer to fill positions. Conversely, while 16 job openings were filled instantly, 5 to 15 days saw higher activity levels with 259 and 1,075 hires, respectively. The peak hiring interval appears between 25 and 40 days, emphasizing the need for effective recruitment strategies. Understanding these trends is crucial for CTOs and hiring managers in Spain Madrid's tech sector, allowing them to fine-tune their recruitment approaches in line with evolving market demands.

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Most popular cities in Spain to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Spain to hire Software Engineers

In Spain, the software job market displays a notable concentration in key urban centers, with Madrid leading significantly at 67% of the total job openings. Following Madrid, Barcelona accounts for 40% of the positions, while the overall job count across the country, including other cities such as Valencia and Málaga, comprises just a fraction of Madrid's demand. This data underscores the capital's pivotal role in the Software PHP Engineers job market trends.

Most sought after technologies in Madrid for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

In the Software PHP Engineer job market in Spain, particularly in Madrid, certain technologies exhibit noteworthy prevalence. PHP stands as the most utilized technology, with a frequency of 5,384, reflecting its foundational role in web development projects. MySQL follows closely, at 1,571, highlighting demand for database management skills alongside PHP expertise. JavaScript, with a frequency of 2,846, emphasizes the importance of front-end integration skills for PHP Developers. Other technologies such as HTML (1,283), CSS (1,058), and Laravel (1,110) also play critical roles in shaping the capabilities desired by hiring managers. For a detailed breakdown of these technologies and their usage frequencies in the market, please refer to the accompanying chart.

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