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Labor precarity is already shaping the type of retirement that young Spaniards will be able to aspire to in four decades. And it will do so regressively, amplifying social and economic inequalities throughout their lives.

In 2024, the youth employment rate (43.2%) remains 15 points below pre-2008 financial crisis levels. This delay in entering the labor market stems from an economic model that, far from rewarding educational investment or mobility, systematically penalizes young workers with unstable contracts and fragmented career paths.

The real disposable income of households remains below the levels of 17 years ago. This phenomenon is not new, but it has worsened in the last legislature.

Spanish households today pay 14.4% more in income tax (IRPF) than in 2008, even though their real disposable income has fallen by 4.3%. This gap can be explained by the effect of inflation on a tax system that has remained frozen in its nominal parameters: personal allowances, deductions, bonuses, and especially tax brackets.

I have spent over a decade learning to trust what isn’t immediately visible. I’ve seen ideas that seemed unlikely turn into solid realities, as well as projects brimming with talent that failed to cross the threshold. There are no certainties, only data, perceptions and an intuition that sharpens over the years.

Personally, I operate with a dual strategy, I invest directly alongside other investors —especially in the early stages, where both capital and human support are equally necessary- and also through specialized fund managers, which allow me to diversify and access larger operations with more structured oversight.

Recently, I came across a provocative and brilliant article on LinkedIn that, with irony and clarity, revived Clinton’s old political slogan this time adapted to the business world: “It’s the salary, stupid!” With a direct tone and concrete examples, the author -someone who has been both in the trenches and in the classroom of Human Resources-, pointed to an uncomfortable truth: the hypocrisy behind many people related policies that ignore the central role of salary as the real engine of motivation.

In Spain, there are now more civil servants than self-employed workers. According to the Active Population Survey, in the first quarter of 2025, public employees outnumbered self-employed workers running their own businesses by nearly 240,000 people. This gap is not new, but its consolidation reveals a profound structural shift in our labor market.

We are witnessing a silent but very significant reversal. Public employment is on the rise, while the role of the self-employed is shrinking. The problem is not just numerical, but also economic and social.

Investing is not the same as gambling. Before choosing a Venture Capital fund, I always recommend evaluating risk tolerance, the investment horizon (at least 7-10 years), and liquidity needs. Ideally, one should look for funds with experienced managers, a clear strategy, and a solid track record of returns. It’s also crucial to understand which types of startups to invest in (early stage, growth, specific sector) and the fund’s terms (fees, timelines, capital structure).

According to data collected by Hays, based on a survey of more than 5,600 companies and professionals and published in their “2025 Labor Market Guide”, 89% of companies report difficulties in finding qualified professionals, an 8% increase from 2024.

I can’t stand this type of news boring, as it reflects a recurring issue in the labor market: the apparent paradox between the talent shortage and professionals’ dissatisfaction with their working conditions.

Europe faces a private funding deficit for startups compared to the investment landscape seen in the United States.

A report published by the European Patent Office (EPO), which measures the percentage of companies in an investor’s portfolio that have filed patent applications, highlights one of the biggest structural weaknesses of Europe’s tech investment ecosystem: its excessive reliance on public funding and the lack of private capital in the later stages of startup development.

According to the “Future of Jobs 2025” report by the World Economic Forum, 39% of the core skills required by workers will change in just five years.

The most alarming aspect, from an economic policy perspective, is the projected loss of 1.6 million jobs globally due to the economic slowdown— a phenomenon that could worsen labor inequalities between regions. Coupled with the rising cost of living, this highlights a clear interconnection between macroeconomic dynamics and microeconomic business decisions.