Project Overview

A2F Consulting was commissioned by the World Bank to conduct a labor market demand assessment in Spain to support Global Skills Partnerships (GSPs) and the development of regular circular migration pathways with Colombia, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. The study focused on identifying high-demand occupations and the skills required to better align migration frameworks with Spain’s labor needs while supporting workforce development in partner countries.

Work Developed

• Applied the Critical Occupations List (COL) / Identification of Critical Occupations methodology using quantitative and qualitative approaches to identify critical labor shortages in Spain.‍
• Analyzed national labor market datasets and indicators (including wage growth, employment trends, and vacancy data) to build an evidence base on labor imbalances and priority occupations.
• Conducted stakeholder engagement (FGDs and consultations) with employers, policymakers, and labor market institutions to validate and refine findings and capture practical recruitment and skills-shortage constraints.‍
• Synthesized findings into a consolidated assessment, producing a validated list of critical occupations and actionable recommendations to strengthen Spain’s migration frameworks.
• Supported knowledge-sharing through planned dissemination workshops with stakeholders in Spain and the partner Latin American countries.‍

The assessment targeted sectors experiencing pronounced skills shortages (including healthcare, construction, and renewable energy) and combined data-driven analysis with structured consultations to ensure recommendations were both evidence-based and implementable.