Editor’s note: This article was first published in January 2012, against the backdrop of Spain’s economic crisis and soaring youth unemployment. Its references to opportunities throughout 2012 have expired.
Over the past year we looked at what the business trends for 2012–2015 would be, an article we later followed with the business sectors that will create the most jobs over the next decade according to Gestha (the union of technical staff at Spain’s Ministry of Finance).
Today we’ll draw on the so-called “new sources of employment” to try to identify the most profitable businesses where we, as entrepreneurs, can carve out a niche. So, following these parameters:
1. Daily-life services
Considering the ageing of the population and the ever-growing presence of women in the labour market, even in times of crisis, help with household chores is a sector whose demand will rise, as is elderly care. Until now, in Spain, these kinds of services were offered by private individuals who were unemployed, but more and more people are looking for companies that provide them.
On the other hand, home services businesses continue to see strong demand, especially renovations, decorating and repairs of all kinds.
2. Childcare
Someone has to look after the children while their parents work, which is why Spain has seen an increase in the number of nurseries opening. Still, this may be a sector where we Spaniards need to innovate, because the children’s market can cover much more: from workplace nurseries to childcare in restaurants, shopping centres and so on. Children’s leisure is among the profitable businesses, and it’s a matter of exploiting it, always with innovation and originality.
Likewise, because of the negative news they hear on television, parents today tend to feel more at ease hiring a company that does it professionally when they need a babysitter for their children.
3. Young people facing difficulties
The “NEET” generation (young people neither working nor studying), together with the severe unemployment young people are experiencing, is an opportunity for new companies that advise and support these young people in entering the labour market. Such initiatives are very well received and tend to get government support, since they can be classed as socially responsible companies.
Similarly, any business idea related to social services will be well received in our country.
4. Security
As unemployment keeps rising, insecurity will grow in our country; in fact, we have record levels of crime, home burglaries, theft and so on.
This situation of public insecurity has already sent the number of security guards hired by companies soaring, and shopping centres have also stepped up security. Homes demand all kinds of security systems; increasingly, having a security system in your home is becoming practically a must if you want a little more peace of mind.
The security sector can cover much more than alarms installed at home. Thanks to new technologies, a growing number of companies offer parents the possibility of tracking their child through their mobile phone so they know where they are at all times. This system is also useful for people with Alzheimer’s. Companies that specialise in bringing together new technologies, home automation and security will have their chance throughout 2012.
5. Sustainable “technology” trends
We won’t go into this topic in depth, as we’ve discussed it many times before. Hybrid vehicles and alternative energy will bring future trade, so it’s a matter of finding a way into it.
Likewise, outside Spain, specifically in the United States and the United Kingdom, there are already companies specialising in micro-living. What does that mean? The concept of micro-living is about making a flat of around 30 square metres as comfortable and useful for its occupant as a larger one, and building it with the latest in energy saving. Given the crisis, fitting out living spaces could do well in Spain, since we’ll have to make the most of the space we have, and if it also helps us save money, so much the better.
Featured image: Harrihealey02, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
