King of the Costa del Sol – Waiting staff dominates the job market

Waiters in Marbella, Malaga and Costa del Sol are in high demand as tourists flock to the terraces for a cold drink when the sun warms up. 

The tourism sector of Malaga province has signed 21,108 contracts by the first quarter in 2025. Waiters are the leading contributors with more than 11,000 contracts. Marbella signed 2,622 tourism contracts alone, proving that money is where it’s at.

Immediacy and experience are valued more than academic credentials in the service-driven economy. Waiting tables is a good way to get into the workforce for many young people in the area. For others, it can be a source of income during the season. Retail is a similar story. Marbella’s 1,717 retail worker contracts are a provincial trend, while the 13,417 of shop assistants, cashiers, and other staff cater to all tourist demands.

Service workers – kings dominate year round

Marbella, meanwhile, has seen 624 new contracts, for jobs such as street cleaners, agricultural workers and other similar roles. The cultural sector, however, is lagging behind with just 50 contracts out of the 3,741 contracts province-wide. These are mostly technicians and performers. The cultural sector is still seasonal and few despite the area’s artistic flair.

Malaga’s employment market places operational roles first, while Marbella ranks eighth among major towns. Malaga is the economic powerhouse of Spain, with its waiters, cleaners and vendors. Social skills and availability are more important than advanced degrees. Costa del Sol remains grounded as we debate innovation and sustainability. The present is still based on serving coffee, cleaning streets and staffing counters. Pay respect to the bartender. They are more numerous than us.