Spain's labor market is showing a growing appetite for change, with workers increasingly willing to leave their current jobs to find work that better matches their expectations. According to Adobe's Dream Careers Index, more than 60% of Spaniards are considering changing jobs or even professions in 2026. Salary is cited as one of the main reasons for making the move, alongside factors such as work-life balance, stress and the chance to return to a professional calling.
That desire for change also shows up in how much workers say they would sacrifice to land the job they really want. More than half of those surveyed by Adobe said they would accept lower pay in exchange for their dream job, while 95% said they would be willing to retrain or reskill to get it. Against that backdrop, vacation time can look like an especially good moment to rethink a career path, update a resume, contact companies or even take part in hiring processes without having to juggle them around a regular work schedule.
Can you job hunt on vacation?
Vacation time pauses a worker's obligation to provide services to their employer, but it does not end the employment relationship, meaning workers can use that time to explore other professional opportunities. Article 38 of Spain's Workers' Statute recognizes the right to paid annual leave of at least 30 calendar days, set by agreement between the company and the worker. Nothing stops someone from browsing job listings, sending applications, attending interviews or moving forward in a hiring process during that time in search of a better-fitting role.
What the Workers' Statute says
The situation changes if the search turns into a second job while the first one is still active. The law allows a person to work for different employers, but it sets specific limits. Article 21 of the Workers' Statute bars someone from working for multiple employers when there is unfair competition, or when the worker has agreed to full dedication to one employer in exchange for explicit financial compensation. So a worker can use vacation time to search for a job, and in some cases even begin working for another company, but must first check whether their contract includes a full-dedication clause and whether the new activity could conflict with their current employer's interests.
Unfair competition is one of the main limits. Sending a resume to a company in a different sector is not the same as joining a direct competitor during vacation and using information, contacts or confidential knowledge from the current company to benefit the new employer. In the second case, disciplinary consequences can follow.
Could job hunting breach your contract?
Labor law also requires that the relationship between worker and employer be conducted in good faith, meaning being on vacation does not erase the obligations that continue to bind the employee to their company. When a full-dedication agreement with financial compensation is in place, the conditions for regaining the freedom to accept another job also apply.
For a worker unhappy in their current job, vacation can become a chance to start looking for an alternative without having to quit right away. They can review job listings, update their resume, do interviews and negotiate the terms of a possible career change, while still respecting the obligations owed to their current employer.
If a worker does find a new opportunity, they will need to weigh issues such as their contract's notice period, any full-dedication clause and any possible conflict of competition before starting the new job. Searching for work during vacation is legal, but using that time to actually start working for another company requires first checking that no labor obligation is being broken.
