Agency Partners

PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Spain

This report was last updated on Aug 10, 2025

Bence Gedai / Founder

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 job market in Spain is characterized by notable fluctuations, with a peak of 388 new positions posted in week 21, demonstrating a surge in recruitment interest despite 172 closures in week 24, indicating a competitive hiring landscape.
  • With a total talent pool of 5,384 PHP engineers actively involved in the labor market, hiring managers need to adopt strategic recruitment techniques to secure top talent amidst stiff competition.
  • Madrid leads the charge in job openings for Software PHP Engineers, accounting for 4,674 positions, followed by Barcelona with 2,694 openings, making these cities crucial for targeting recruitment strategies in Spain's tech sector.
  • The majority of job openings for Software PHP Engineers in Spain require mid-senior level talent, which constitutes 39% of positions. This trend suggests a strong demand for experienced developers, necessitating tailored recruitment strategies to address this need.
  • The median time to hire for Software PHP Engineers in Spain is currently 30 days, with an emphasis on filling roles within 25 to 40 days, highlighting the importance of a streamlined hiring process to attract and retain qualified candidates.
Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Spain in the last 3 months

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

In recent weeks, the software PHP engineering job market in Spain has shown notable fluctuations. The peak occurred in week 21, with 388 new positions posted, a significant increase compared to other weeks, highlighting a surge in recruitment interest. However, closures also surged, particularly in week 24, where 172 positions were closed, indicating a possible mismatch between hiring expectations and candidate availability. Compared to other European countries, Spain appears to have a dynamic yet challenging landscape for software PHP engineers, with specific weeks revealing both high opportunities and substantial competition, underscoring the need for targeted recruitment strategies for CTOs aiming to secure top talent.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Spain:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
Bending Spoons logo Bending Spoons Italy Information Technology & Services 2013 180
Spain Internship logo Spain Internship Spain Government Administration 2010 100
Canonical logo Canonical United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2004 66
Secture logo Secture Spain Information Technology & Services 2017 63
Plexus Tech logo Plexus Tech Spain Information Technology & Services 2000 63
Mindrift logo Mindrift United States Information Technology & Services null 46
knowmad mood logo knowmad mood Spain Information Technology & Services 1994 42
AD4 Octógono logo AD4 Octógono Spain Information Technology & Services null 35
SlashMobility logo SlashMobility Spain Information Technology & Services 2010 31
MediaMarkt España logo 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 PHP job market in Spain presents a competitive landscape, especially when we consider the current job openings and the available talent pool. With a notable ratio of job openings to the talent pool, hiring talent in Spain appears to be relatively challenging. For comparison, countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands exhibit similar hiring pressures, underlining the widespread demand for Software PHP Engineers across Europe. As recruitment strategies become increasingly crucial for CTOs and Engineering Managers, understanding these dynamics will enable firms to effectively position themselves in the competitive landscape. Moreover, with trends in hiring Senior Software PHP Developers highlighting scarcity, addressing the future demand for PHP Engineers in Spain remains essential for successful talent acquisition.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Spain

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Spain

In the Software PHP job market in Spain, the seniority distribution indicates a robust demand for Mid-Senior level talent, comprising 39% of available positions. Entry level roles account for 27%, while Associate positions represent 19%. This distribution highlights the diverse experience levels sought by employers, crucial for recruitment strategies in Spain's tech sector.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Spain

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Spain

In the Spanish software development job market, the predominant employment type is full-time, accounting for 97% of engineering roles. Contract positions follow with a mere 3%, while part-time roles make up less than 2%. This data highlights the strong preference for full-time employment among Software PHP Engineers in Spain, indicating stability and long-term investment in talent.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Spain

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for Software PHP Engineers in Spain reveals significant insights into the current job market dynamics. Notably, the majority of hiring activity occurs between 25 to 40 days, with 1,333 positions filled within 25 days and a gradual decline observed as the hiring duration extends. Spanish employers should be particularly aware of the increased competition for top-tier PHP talent, as the count dips sharply beyond 30 days, indicating a potential challenge in attracting candidates if the process is protracted. With 1,861 positions filled in the range of 30 days and 852 at 15 days, recruiters need to refine their recruitment strategies to align with these trends. This focus will not only enhance candidate experience but also improve the chances of securing qualified Software PHP Developers in a competitive landscape.

Most popular cities in Spain to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Spain to hire Software Engineers

In Spain, the distribution of Software PHP Engineer job openings reveals a significant concentration in major urban centers. Madrid leads with 47% of the total job postings at 4,674 positions, followed by Barcelona, which accounts for 27% with 2,694 openings. Other cities such as Valencia and Málaga represent a smaller share, with 5% and 5% respectively, indicating that hiring managers should prioritize these cities when considering recruitment strategies in Spain's software development sector.

Most sought after technologies in Spain for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

In the Software PHP job market in Spain, PHP remains the most widely utilized technology, with a frequency of 5,384. Following closely are JavaScript and MySQL, with 2,846 and 1,571 instances respectively, which highlights the importance of these skills in conjunction with PHP. Complementing these core technologies, Laravel, Symfony, and SQL are also prominent, indicating a strong emphasis on robust frameworks and database management. This data is illustrated in the accompanying chart, shedding light on the technology preferences for Software PHP Engineer positions.

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