Spanish mechanic owner blames low wages for hiring struggles

Gaitán can't find mechanics as debate centers on salary

Ángel Gaitán, known for his workshop videos and branded emergency beacons, states he cannot find workers for his business. This claim, spread on social media, has been met with skepticism by those who hear similar complaints from small business owners regularly. The prevailing response was quick: if you can't find people, pay more. This isn't just a slogan; it is the conclusion drawn by many who have worked in workshops, construction sites, and warehouses.

What makes this case notable is not the complaint itself, but the ecosystem surrounding it. Gaitán built a public persona through videos, opinions, and merchandise, making each statement read like a manifesto. Some buy into his narrative, while others remind him that he sets the wages.

What the entrepreneur says and how people respond

The core message is that there is a lack of willing workers for the shop. The most common reply is that the problem isn't a shortage of hands, but the price paid for them. A phrase circulating widely summarizes this: "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys." Attributed to folk wisdom rather than any report, this idea has become the unofficial slogan of the rebuttal.

Criticism goes beyond salary. Skilled workers consider hours, contracts, and treatment, not just the paycheck. Testimonials mention enduring ten or eleven-hour days, unpaid overtime, and contributions below actual earnings. The repeated diagnosis: we haven't lost the work ethic, we've lost the antiestéticar of rejecting poorly paid jobs.

Supply and demand argument

Economically, this is textbook. If a workshop leaves a vacancy unfilled for months, the offered wage is below the local market equilibrium. Defenders of this view argue that an employer who can afford not to raise wages doesn't actually need that worker urgently. Labor scarcity would then be corporate posturing, not a production emergency.

Conversely, another perspective notes that some trades have limited professional supply and training matters. An assistant differs from a technician capable of diagnosing faults even manufacturers miss. Such profiles are rare, and they must be paid above average or they leave.

The shadow of workers who leave and don't return

Part of the discussion focuses on a phenomenon rarely headlined: skilled professionals emigrating. Some claim many Spanish tradespeople have moved to countries paying what they believe they're worth, with some returning only to find conditions unchanged and leaving again. Language barriers are cited as the main factor preventing mass exodus.

This aligns with descriptions of workshops as cages for veteran workers. At forty or fifty, with mortgages and few alternatives, changing companies is daunting. Young leavers can afford it; older ones endure. This asymmetry explains why threats to quit aren't always credible.

The public figure and the beacon business

Gaitán is more than a complaining entrepreneur; he is a brand. He sells emergency beacons under his name and reportedly charges significant fees for brief consultations. This detail has been used against him: someone monetizing their image can hardly present themselves as a victim of the labor market.

The debate shifts to the type of entrepreneur he represents. Compared to other media-savvy business figures, he is accused of seeking spotlight over solutions. It's not a legal accusation but a character reading, heavily influenced by the contrast between his discourse and practice.

The unsettling data point

Among cited messages is a figure summarizing distrust: four months of unemployment benefits correspond to each year worked, meaning six years of contributions are needed to accumulate two years of benefits. Repeated as an argument, this calculation reminds us that the safety net isn't as generous as some narratives suggest.

Against this backdrop, the entrepreneur's complaint sounds like anything but news. Workshops struggling to find mechanics have existed for years. The question remains whether the problem is people or price. Judging by the ongoing debate, there is no consensus.