The bakeries of the Balearic Islands are looking for relief: this is how you can learn the baker's trade
A new job board wants to connect establishments adhering to Pa d'Aquí with people interested in joining a traditional profession that suffers from a lack of generational change
PalmaThe trade of baker is one of those that have best resisted the passage of centuries, but it is also one of those that today faces the greatest difficulties in ensuring its continuity. The lack of generational renewal and the difficulties in finding staff have become a growing concern among traditional bakeries in the Balearic Islands, which see fewer and fewer people willing to learn a profession as demanding as it is rooted in the culture of the Islands.
To try to reverse this situation, the Ministry of Business, Self-Employed and Energy has promoted a new job exchange linked to establishments that are part of the 'Pa d'Aquí' seal. The initiative aims to put bakeries that need to hire workers in contact with people interested in training for a trade that, despite changes in consumption habits, remains essential in the daily lives of thousands of families.
The call is especially aimed at young people who want to start a profession that combines artisanal knowledge, tradition, and food production. The Government highlights that the measure seeks to guarantee the continuity of traditional bakeries and preserve a heritage that goes far beyond bread making.
And it is that bread holds a prominent place in the popular culture of the Islands. The llonguet for snacks, the brown bread that accompanies meals, and traditional recipes linked to local gastronomy are part of a legacy that has been passed down from generation to generation. Behind each bakery there is also an accumulation of knowledge, techniques, and ways of doing things that are difficult to replace.
The situation of bakers is not an exception. In recent years, numerous sectors linked to traditional trades have warned of the difficulties in finding continuity. Farming, artisanal fishing, trades related to traditional construction, and certain artisanal activities share the same problem: professionals are retiring and there is not always a new generation willing to take their place.
This loss of succession does not only have economic consequences. It also implies the progressive disappearance of an intangible heritage formed by knowledge, techniques, and practices that have contributed to defining the identity of the peoples of the Islands. In many cases, these are skills that are not learned from books, but through experience accumulated over years in workshops, fields, or bakeries.
Traditional bakeries have also had to face other challenges in recent decades. The increase in energy and raw material costs, competition from large retailers, and changes in consumption habits have forced many businesses to reinvent themselves to remain active. All of this has made the search for new professionals a key issue to ensure their survival.
With this new job portal, establishments adhering to the Pa d'Aquí seal hope to awaken the interest of new generations and prevent one of the oldest trades in the Balearic Islands from losing its continuity. Interested individuals can consult the available offers through the program's portal.