Murcia positions itself as a magnet for expatriate talent with an innovative return program.

 

According to data from the Register of Spaniards Abroad (PERE) of January 1, 2025, about 38.000 Murcians currently reside outside of Spain. CatenonAware that much of this talent is looking for opportunities to return, the company has launched a project designed to connect these professionals with the needs of the Murcian labor market.

 

The region demands experts in areas such as industry, the agri-food sector, construction, and energy. Both multinationals with a presence in Murcia and successful family businesses in the process of internationalization They are actively seeking these professionals with high added value.

A bridge between global talent and local opportunities

 

Pablo Olmos, director of Catenon in the Valencian Community and Murcia, highlights the strong growth experienced by Murcian companies, which generates a great need for professionals with international experience. "Our expats want to return, without giving up a status earned through hard work and sacrifice," says Olmos.

 

The executive highlights Murcia's interest in attracting talent, with accelerated demand in sectors such as healthcare, technology, science, finance, and tourism. "We believe a project like this is important to strengthen the business environment and help many highly talented, well-educated, and experienced people return," he added.

 

Catenon has been working on this initiative for a year, identifying profiles and analyzing the experiences of expatriates in other countries to align them with key positions in the Murcia labor market. The consulting firm uses advanced technologies such as Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to identify the ideal candidate anywhere in the world.

 

Olmos, who personally returns to Murcia after working in Chile, Singapore and LondonHe emphasizes the enriching and valued experience of Murcian professionals abroad. "We are realizing that their experience abroad is so enriching and highly professional that it is extremely valued," he explains.

Strategic sectors: tourism, agri-food and industry as pillars

 

America and Europe They are the preferred destinations for expatriate Murcians, with the logistics, tourism, agri-food, and renewable energy sectors showing a growing demand for professionals.

 

In particular, Olmos points out the high demand in the tourism, agri-food, and industrial sectors, where Murcia is a benchmark. Many large companies seek the knowledge and experience of Murcian professionals, who in turn show interest in returning and occupying management positions. "Major investment groups turn to Catenon to attract innovative profiles to their companies that will help them in the transformation they are undertaking," says Olmos.

 

Murcian managers abroad cover a wide range of industries and roles, from expatriates from multinationals to branch leaders of Spanish companies. In view of the increasing rate of unfilled vacancies in Europe (2,8% in the first quarter of 2023, according to Eurostat), and the demand for labor in countries such as Belgium, Germany, France and ItalyCatenon considers an action plan for the return of talent to be crucial.

 

"Murcia is becoming a powerful hub that could grow much more the more talent it attracts, not only from expatriates, but from other citizens of the world," concludes Olmos, emphasizing the consultancy's vision of turning the region into a global talent attraction.