Spanish Employment in the Health Sector II (Updated 2025)

Editorial note: This article was originally published in September 2009 to explore the distribution of employment in the Spanish health sector, based on the executive search experience of EuroGalenus. It has been updated in 2025 with current data while preserving the structure and tone of the original.

As a continuation of our June 2009 post, and to complement our understanding of employment by function and segment in the Spanish health sector, we are now drawing on over 30 years of EuroGalenus’ experience in executive search, along with updated market data.

Sector Breakdown (2025):

  • Pharmaceutical companies: 38%
  • Hospital products and medical devices: 21%
  • OTC / Consumer Health: 13%
  • Biotech / Diagnostics: 17%
  • Services: 11%

The role of General Manager and similar positions in Spain continues to represent around 10% of executive placements. Two main trends persist: an increase in territorial scope (expanding to Iberia or Southern Europe) and a reduction in direct responsibilities at the country level, with areas such as Manufacturing, R&D, Logistics, or Clinical Research reporting directly to regional hubs or being outsourced.

Technical functions represent more than a third of all executive searches and show continued growth. Medical Affairs, Clinical Research, Market Access, Business Intelligence, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance and Health Economics are frequently sought-after areas.

Despite being the largest industrial employer in the sector, the pharmaceutical industry now accounts for 38% of all executive mandates, down slightly from previous years. This is complemented by 13% from the Consumer Health / OTC segment, which includes Cosmetics, Nutrition, Hygiene products, and related sectors.

Hospital products and medical devices make up 21%, maintaining a stable share, while Biotech and Diagnostics have grown to 17%, reflecting the expansion of Spain’s biotech ecosystem and scientific innovation. Although both segments share scientific intensity, hospital/lab settings, and a specialist focus, they diverge in applications: not all Diagnostics are biotech-derived, and many biotech innovations target therapeutic areas beyond diagnosis.

One of the most notable changes in the last 15 years is the rise of Services companies as key players in talent recruitment. These include agencies and consultancies offering services that were once managed in-house by industry players: Marketing, Market Research, Business Intelligence, Communications, Events, HR, Editorial/CRM, and increasingly, outsourced Sales teams.

Note: All figures reflect the analysis of completed executive search projects by EuroGalenus and other available market sources as of 2025.

Bibliography (2025)

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