Cabildo Programs Create Thousands of Jobs, Drive Tenerife's Employment

Employment programs launched by the Cabildo in 2025 have created thousands of job opportunities. They have also boosted people's training and practical experience, helping Tenerife become a major economic and employment driver in the Canary Islands.

Cabildo President Rosa Dávila highlighted that these initiatives have improved the professional skills of thousands. They have also increased cooperation between public and private sectors and strengthened key projects like Barrios por el Empleo, Proyecto ISOS, Práctica, and ECCA Social.

The Department of Employment, Education, and Youth, led by island councilor Efraín Medina, has pushed a broad strategy. Its goals are to make people more employable, help them find jobs, and offer better training opportunities.

To achieve this, special programs were started for groups who struggle most to find work, including women, young people, the long-term unemployed, and those using third-sector services. These efforts are coordinated with local councils and expert organizations to create lasting jobs across the island.

The president added, "These programs have provided full support, including guidance, training, non-work internships, direct hiring, and financial aid for companies and organizations. This has led to significant success in helping people find jobs and improving their prospects."

Efraín Medina also noted, "Beyond the Cabildo's own island-wide programs, we've rolled out a broad strategy across the territory. This involves working with all 31 municipalities in Tenerife to boost local employment policies."

He pointed out that the island government provided 10 million euros in subsidies. This funding supported municipal projects that combine training, hiring, community work, better public services, and sustainability efforts, all in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This commitment to working together between different levels of government meant each municipality could tailor its plans to its own needs. They launched projects that helped everyone from skilled professionals to vulnerable groups, creating jobs in many important areas.

For example, the San Miguel de Abona Avanza 2025 project trained 32 people, with half of them finding jobs. El Sauzal Emplea 2030 hired 27 people, focusing on professional development and community support. These show how directly these plans help local communities and economies.

Medina added, "There are also bigger projects, like the one in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. This project brings together training, strategic planning, urban sustainability, and job creation, strengthening the municipality's ability to handle future challenges."

In total, these local projects have already helped over 500 people. They have offered unique job chances, made people more employable, and improved community spirit in neighborhoods, districts, and rural areas across the island.

To further boost employment and training, the Cabildo de Tenerife has also developed wider island-wide initiatives. These programs support and build on the work done with local councils.

One key initiative is Proyecto Práctica. This strategic program helps qualified young people on the island gain their first professional experience. With a 2.5 million euro investment, it has hired 100 young people for internships, offering them 12-month training contracts related to their studies.

The program runs through 15 organizations where the Cabildo is involved, and the training contracts cover nearly 20 different job types. It receives funding from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Canary Islands Employment Service (SCE).

The Minister of Employment also stated, "The Cabildo also supports specific programs for women who have formal education but struggle to find their first professional job in their field."

One such program is Proyecto ISOS. For its 2025-2026 edition, it allowed 100 women to start non-work internships in almost 70 island companies. This program is managed by the Insular Foundation for Training, Employment, and Business Development (FIFEDE) and has a budget of 700,000 euros.

Medina noted that alongside programs for young people and women, "we have boosted support for especially vulnerable groups through programs run by third-sector organizations." He added that 2 million euros have been set aside for subsidies for non-profit organizations.

This funding will enable 12 third-sector organizations to start projects, mainly in key areas like the blue and green economy, energy efficiency, and the orange economy. These projects will help 630 unemployed people, with 56.5% of them being women.

Another initiative aims to encourage job creation by offering financial aid to small and medium-sized businesses. The councilor stated, "A call for applications was launched with a budget of 356,845 euros. This has helped 62 unemployed people find jobs, with a focus on those who face particular challenges in entering the workforce."

The aid is flexible, adjusting to the type of contract. To qualify, applicants must have been registered in Tenerife for at least 12 months and have been unemployed for at least 75 days in the three months before being hired.

The island government, working with the ECCA Social Foundation, started a training program for 950 unemployed people. Its goal is to improve their professional skills and help them find jobs.

With an 180,000 euro subsidy, the Cabildo de Tenerife and the foundation are strengthening their commitment to social inclusion and employability. They believe education is vital for reducing unemployment and creating equal opportunities on the island.

Additionally, the island government has approved over 43,000 euros to continue the Tenerife Dual 2025 program. This program, developed with the Chamber of Commerce, lets students gain practical experience in local companies alongside their studies.

In 2025, the Cabildo de Tenerife held a highly successful job fair. More than 3,000 people attended, including job seekers, companies, and employment organizations.

Workshops, interviews, and career guidance helped 40% of attendees find jobs within three months. Because of this success, the Cabildo will boost its support for the 2026 Job Fair with a total budget of 145,000 euros.

Efraín Medina emphasized, "Tenerife is not just bringing back jobs; it's creating its own model that blends social innovation, training, and partnerships across the entire island."