Osakidetza launches record‑breaking public employment exam in Spain

The Basque Health Service (Osakidetza) began the first phase of its ordinary public employment exam (OPE) on Friday at the BEC centre in Barakaldo. A total of 101,693 applicants are competing for 3,764 positions across nine professional categories, including nurses, auxiliary technicians, administrative staff and physiotherapists.

The exam coincides with a heat wave, prompting organizers to install air‑conditioning, water dispensers and additional emergency services. Health Minister Alberto Martínez said, "Vamos a vivir un fin de semana histórico con récord de participación," highlighting that about 75% of candidates are women and the largest age group is 40‑50 years.

Applicants come primarily from the Basque provinces—55,959 from Bizkaia, 20,926 from Gipuzkoa and 20,584 from Álava—with the remainder from other Spanish regions and a few from abroad, including France, Estonia and Germany.