All indications are that this year's tourism season in Mallorca and the Balearics will be excellent. But while tourist numbers could even pass previous records and jobs are plentiful, there are likely to be problems with filling vacancies. Business and unions agree as to the reasons - the price of accommodation and the difficulties with finding any.
Nuria Chardi, the director of the Adecco recruitment company in the Balearics, says that there are many workers who would like to come to the islands for the season but are being put off. "If they are not offered housing or help with it, they are turning down offers." She and union representatives recognise that some companies, hotel groups in particular, are making accommodation available, but José García of the UGT says that this is "insufficient" as not enough companies are doing so.
The president of the CAEB Confederation of Balearic Business Associations, Carmen Planas, believes that the lack of affordable housing is one of the great problems in the Balearics and that it is "a situation that has worsened in recent years and affects the majority of the people of the islands".
"There is concern about the difficulties in filling all the vacancies, as this will harm businesses' productivity and the quality of tourist services. Sectors such as tourism are rethinking and housing workers in their own establishments. But it is a problem that goes beyond tourism. It affects all sectors and therefore requires a long-term solution. We need more housing, to grow in height, to reclassify land and to renovate obsolete buildings."
García points out that salaries aren't the issue, as they are among the highest in Spain. "Salaries in the hospitality industry are at the top in the country and will this year rise by 5%. But they are not enough to rent a flat. If the rent is around 1,000 euros and gross wages are around 2,000 euros, they are not enough."
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Morgan WilliamsYeh everything is relative. I used Munich, as most of the folk I chat to in the central bar are either from Frankfurt or Munich. And they always complain how expensive Majorca is. Personally I don’t consider Majorca to be particularly expensive or Munich either, although it’s been 7 years since my last visit to that wonderful city. Certainly when compared for good quality food , drink and particularly service compared to the U.K. But that’s pretty standard in most of Europe. We had a cracking meal in Vienna in traditional family restaurant in the old city in late October. Ok we just had beer and very good it was. But the bill was probably 30% less than I would pay in my local. But back to the wages in Majorca compared with living costs , it used to be a 20% premium on the island according to my pall Joan whose Majorcan born from Inca. Now I think it’s well north of that.
David HollandThe balearics have nothing like a Munich cost structure. I lived there for a decade, and I can assure you, a 1 bed flat in Munich will cost triple or more than what it costs here. To rent or buy. But salaries in Munich are easily 4x what they are here. Everything is relative.
More social housing is needed, not flats than can be rented out to the highest bidder.
“Salaries aren’t the issue.” Of course they’re the issue. The Balearics have a Munich cost structure, maybe a little higher So being higher paid than Spain isn’t going to cut it. Majorca needs Majorca pay to compensate for the purchasing offset. Other wise no employees, no services, no tourism industry. If prices to tourists rise we so be it.