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Looking for work in Gran Canaria when you are also facing other difficulties

Ubuntu Canarias · 9 min read · Published 25 October 2026

Adviser from an association talking with a young man and going through a document, with a view of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

A guide to resources that can help you find your way, know your options and take the next step, even if your personal or legal situation is complicated.

Looking for work can be hard even when you have experience, training and the will to work. It gets more complicated if you have just arrived in the Canary Islands, are still learning Spanish, have no internet access, are going through financial difficulties or do not know which procedures you need to complete.

There are also people who have been looking for work for months without any reply, who have family responsibilities, who cannot travel easily, or who have irregular status and do not know where to turn.

In these circumstances, sending CVs without clear guidance can lead to exhaustion and frustration. Sometimes, before finding a job, other things need to be sorted out: knowing which documents you need, knowing your rights, getting access to training, receiving social support or finding an organisation that can help you put the steps in order.

At Ubuntu Canarias we have gathered resources in Gran Canaria that can help you get started. They do not all offer the same support or have the same requirements, but knowing about them can help you find a way in.

1. If you are looking for work and do not know where to start

Canary Islands Employment Service (SCE)

This is one of the first resources to know about if you are looking for work in the Canary Islands. You can find information on registering as a job seeker, job offers, career guidance and training and employment programmes.

If you do not know which service you need, you can start by checking the official information or asking at your employment office. Requirements depend on the procedure and the programme. If you have irregular status, ask specifically which guidance or information services are available for your situation.

Chamber of Commerce of Gran Canaria

The Chamber of Commerce has a job placement agency and resources related to employment and job integration.

2. If you need to improve your CV or get career guidance

Not everyone needs to start from scratch. You may already have experience from your country, have worked in several sectors or know a trade, but not be sure how to present your career in a CV adapted to the Spanish job market.

You may also need help organising your search, finding offers that suit your profile or learning about the training available.

Ubuntu Canarias: employment area

At Ubuntu Canarias we share job offers and useful resources to make job hunting in Gran Canaria easier. You can look at the published offers and contact the employment area to ask about the resources available and possible guidance on your CV and your job search.

Ubuntu Canarias shares information about companies’ job offers, but does not hire people directly and cannot guarantee a job. Guidance and support options should be checked directly with the organisation.

Employment Service and Chamber of Commerce

The two resources in the previous section also offer career guidance, training and access to job offers.

Other training and guidance resources

You can also check what is available at:

Before signing up, check whether the activity is open, whether it is free and what the entry requirements are.

A tip: your experience counts even if you gained it outside Spain. If you have worked in construction, care, farming, retail, hospitality, mechanics, cleaning or any other sector, identify the tasks you know how to do and explain them clearly in your CV. Do not just list the jobs you have had: describe your knowledge and skills too. We explain how in the article Migrating doesn’t mean starting from scratch.

3. If you have irregular status

This is one of the situations that causes the most doubts and worry. Some people do not know whether they can go to a social organisation, ask for guidance or find out about their options because they do not have a residence or work permit.

Not having a residence permit does not mean you have to go without information or stop asking for social guidance. Access to employment, public programmes and other resources depends on each service and on your specific situation.

You can start with these contacts.

CITE of CCOO Canarias

The Information Centre for Foreign Workers offers guidance on migration and employment-related issues.

Ask about the support available, the requirements and the guidance options related to your situation.

CESAL: LAR Project

The LAR Project is aimed at migrants and includes support related to legal status and inclusion processes.

Contact the organisation to confirm whether the programme is still running in Gran Canaria, whether places are available and what requirements apply.

Foreigners’ Office in Las Palmas (Oficina de Extranjería)

If you need information about immigration procedures, you can contact the relevant office.

The Foreigners’ Office does not replace individual legal advice. If you have questions about your case, ask where you can get specialised guidance before making decisions or paying for a service.

If you do not know what to do, start by explaining your situation to an organisation that can guide you. You do not need to sort out every procedure on the same day. You can ask which documents you need to gather, what options exist and what the next step would be.

4. If you need social support or are going through financial difficulties

Sometimes a job search gets stuck because of problems that sending more CVs will not solve: lack of income, housing difficulties, family responsibilities, no support network or not knowing what resources exist.

In those cases, you can also ask for information about social services.

Social Services of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council

If you live in another municipality, check your own town council’s social services. Each municipality has its own channels and procedures.

Cáritas Diocesana de Canarias

You can contact Cáritas to ask about their reception resources, social support and possible referrals.

ECCA Social

IRIS Social

You can contact these organisations and ask which programmes are available, whether they can help in your situation and whether they can refer you to another resource if they cannot help you directly.

Not all organisations have places available or can meet every need. If an organisation does not offer the service you are looking for, ask whether they know of an alternative.

Illustration of an adviser talking with three people around a table, with icons for jobs, training, CV, community, health and the internet

5. If you need training or want to learn to use digital tools

Today many job offers, registrations and procedures are handled online. Not having a computer, having trouble with email or not knowing how to use a platform can become a real obstacle.

Before giving up on an opportunity, ask whether there is help with registration or whether you can access digital skills training.

IRIS Social: CONECTA Gran Canaria programme

The organisation has announced free, in-person digital skills training.

The published information announced places and activities during 2026. Check directly whether registration is still open and what the current requirements are.

You can also ask about training and digital skills at the Canary Islands Employment Service, ECCA Social and the Chamber of Commerce. On our free training page we gather courses that are open for registration.

When you find a course, check these four points:

  • Whether it is free or has a cost.
  • Whether it requires a particular legal status or specific documents.
  • Whether it is in person or online.
  • Whether it gives a certificate, and which organisation issues it.

Do not pay for a course without first knowing its conditions and how useful it can be for the job you are looking for.

6. If you need a place to study or prepare your applications

Not everyone has a computer or a quiet space at home. If you need to prepare your CV, look at job offers or study, you can ask about the services available in public libraries.

Gran Canaria Island Library (Biblioteca Insular)

Before going, check the opening hours and whether they offer the service you need. If you need internet access or a place to study, ask about the conditions of use.

7. If transport is a problem

A job interview, a course or an official appointment can mean journeys that cost money and time. Before you leave, check the connections and work out how long it will take you to get there.

If the cost of transport stops you from attending an appointment, ask the organisation running it whether they offer help or alternatives. Not all organisations can, but asking may stop you from turning down an opportunity without knowing your options.

8. Which resource should I contact first?

If you are facing several difficulties at once, you do not need to contact every organisation at the same time. Choose your most urgent need and start there.

  • You are looking for work and need guidance: Ubuntu Canarias, the Canary Islands Employment Service or the Chamber of Commerce.
  • You want to improve your CV and organise your search: contact Ubuntu Canarias and ask about the guidance services available.
  • You have questions about immigration matters: CITE of CCOO or a specialised advice service.
  • You want to know your options related to your legal status: CITE, or ask about CESAL’s LAR Project.
  • You need social support: your municipality’s Social Services, Cáritas or another social organisation.
  • You want to improve your digital skills: ask about IRIS Social’s activities and other training programmes.
  • You need a place to study or get online: try the Biblioteca Insular and other public spaces in your municipality.
  • You do not know which resource fits your case: explain your situation to a guidance organisation and ask them to point you to the next step.

9. If you are going through a hard time, ask for help step by step

Looking for work while trying to solve financial, family, legal or personal problems can be exhausting. When every procedure seems to depend on another, it is easy to feel you are not moving forward.

Try to separate the issues. Write down what you need to solve first, what documents you have and who you can ask. If you do not understand an answer, ask for it to be explained in another way. If you cannot complete a procedure online, ask whether there is another way to be served.

And if an organisation cannot help you, that does not necessarily mean you have no options. You can ask about another resource, the entry requirements or an appointment to explain your situation in more detail.

At Ubuntu Canarias we share information to make it easier to access employment, training and social guidance resources. We do not handle companies’ hiring directly and cannot guarantee a job or access to other organisations’ programmes. Our aim is to help you know the options available and find the information you need to take the next step.

Before you go to an organisation

Check the opening hours, make an appointment if needed and ask which documents you should bring. Programmes can change, close registration or change their entry requirements.

The contacts in this guide are starting points: confirm with each organisation what support is available when you get in touch. Information checked on 25 October 2026.

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