Else Beekman
The population of the Balearic Islands has been growing steadily. However, the number of public sector workers has not kept up. With over 1.2 million residents, the islands are facing a shortage of public employees, leaving several key positions unfilled.
This has led to deteriorating public services, with unions calling for urgent action to address the shortfall in sectors such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement. According to the medical union SIMEBAL, the Balearic Islands need 800 more doctors—300 in primary care and 500 in hospitals. Specialties like psychiatry, oncology, and gynaecology are particularly understaffed. Additionally, the nursing union SATSE estimates that 600 more nurses are required to meet demand. Furthermore, health technicians demand a 30-40% increase in staff to manage workloads effectively.
The situation is exacerbated by the difficulty in filling vacancies on the smaller islands, such as Ibiza and Menorca. These have been labelled as “difficult to cover” areas, with incentives being offered to attract staff.
Thousands of teachers needed
The education sector is also under pressure. Lluís Segura from the STEI union estimates that 3,000 more teachers are needed over the next two years. Those teachters have to meet the growing demands of the islands’ diverse and expanding population. Additionally, the early childhood education sector (ages 0-3) requires 388 teachers and 777 support staff to provide adequate coverage.
In smaller islands like Formentera, high living costs make it difficult to attract teachers. Consequently, there is a lack of staff in key areas, with hundreds of positions labelled as “difficult to fill.”
A struggling police force
The Balearic Islands are facing a severe shortage of law enforcement officers. The Guardia Civil union JUCIL claims that 2,600 more officers are needed to maintain public safety, with the current force of 1,946 falling significantly short. Similarly, the Policía Nacional requires 500 more officers to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population and extended tourist season.
Other sectors: A widespread shortfall
Other sectors, including justice, social services, and public administration, are also experiencing staff shortages. In the justice system, the Balearic Islands have only 12.3 judges per 100,000 residents, far below the European average of 20. Additionally, the Social Security and Extranjería (immigration) offices are struggling to keep up with demand due to a lack of staff, causing long delays for essential services.
Also read: 5,600 Guardia Civil officers on sick leave