Key data
| Regulation | Royal Decree 387/2026, of May 6, approving the public employment offer for fiscal year 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication | May 7, 2026 |
| Entry into force | May 7, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Job applicants, civil servants, labor personnel and bodies of the General State Administration |
| Category | Public Sector |
| Fiscal year | 2026 |
| Position limit | Conditioned by the staff replacement rate set in the General State Budget Law |
The General State Administration activates its personnel incorporation planning in 2026 with the approval of the Public Employment Offer through Royal Decree 387/2026, of May 6. This instrument is the legal starting point without which no ministry or body can announce selective processes during the year.
For public employment applicants, the 2026 Public Employment Offer determines which bodies and scales are announced and how many positions are available. For public bodies, it means formal authorization to initiate the selection processes needed to fill their staffing needs.
What does this regulation establish?
Royal Decree 387/2026 approves the Public Employment Offer (PEO) for fiscal year 2026, which is the human resources planning instrument of the General State Administration. Its main elements are:
- Setting the maximum number of positions that can be announced in the different civil service bodies and scales, as well as in labor personnel.
- Authorization for ministries and bodies to announce the corresponding selective processes during 2026.
- Compliance with the staff replacement rate set in the General State Budget Law, which acts as the maximum limit on the number of positions that can be offered.
The staff replacement rate is the budgetary mechanism that determines how many new positions the Administration can offer based on vacancies in the public workforce (retirements, deaths, voluntary leaves, etc.). Without approval of the Public Employment Offer, no selective process can legally begin.
The regulation affects both civil service bodies and scales and labor personnel of the General State Administration, thus covering virtually all access routes to state public employment.
Economic and operational impact
The approval of the 2026 Public Employment Offer has direct consequences in several areas:
- For public bodies: they can initiate administrative announcement procedures, which implies allocation of human and budgetary resources for managing selective processes (panels, publications, tests).
- For job applicants: the Public Employment Offer determines in which bodies and scales there will be real available positions in 2026, which directly conditions investment in exam preparation.
- For the market of academies and exam preparers: publication of the Public Employment Offer activates demand for specific training for the announced bodies.
- For the Administration as a whole: incorporation of new personnel has an impact on the capacity to provide public services and implement policies.
The number of positions that can be announced is conditioned by the staff replacement rate established in the General State Budget, which means the Public Employment Offer cannot exceed that maximum limit regardless of each body's needs.
Who does it affect?
- Job applicants and public employment aspirants: the Public Employment Offer determines which positions and bodies are announced in 2026 and, therefore, whether their preparation has real opportunities this year.
- Active civil servants: may be affected by internal promotion processes included in the Public Employment Offer.
- Labor personnel of the General State Administration: the Public Employment Offer also includes labor personnel positions, not just civil service positions.
- Ministries and public bodies: are authorized to announce selective processes and must plan the necessary resources to manage them.
- Exam preparation academies and tutors: the Public Employment Offer conditions demand for their services based on the bodies announced.
Practical example
A ministry that has recorded 50 retirements during 2025 can, depending on the replacement rate set in the General State Budget, offer a determined number of those positions in the 2026 Public Employment Offer. With the approval of Royal Decree 387/2026, that ministry is formally authorized to publish the announcement of those positions in the Official State Gazette during fiscal year 2026.
For a job applicant who has been preparing for two years to access a body of the General State Administration, publication of the 2026 Public Employment Offer is the signal confirming that body has real positions announced this year and that the selective process will begin during the fiscal year.
What should organizations do now?
Although this regulation primarily affects the public sector, there are specific actions that different stakeholders should consider:
- Bodies and ministries: review the positions assigned in the 2026 Public Employment Offer and plan the necessary resources to manage selective processes (panels, announcements, tests) within the fiscal year.
- Job applicants and aspirants: consult the 2026 Public Employment Offer in the Official State Gazette to verify if the body or scale you aspire to has positions announced in 2026 and adjust your preparation planning.
- Active civil servants: check if the 2026 Public Employment Offer includes internal promotion processes in your body or scale and assess whether you meet the requirements to participate.
- Academies and exam preparers: adapt your training offer to the bodies and scales with real positions in the 2026 Public Employment Offer to correctly guide your students.
- HR advisors in the public sector: advise your bodies on deadlines and procedural requirements so that announcements are published within fiscal year 2026 and authorized positions are not lost.
Frequently asked questions
What is the State's 2026 Public Employment Offer and what is it for?
The 2026 Public Employment Offer, approved by Royal Decree 387/2026 of May 6, is the instrument through which the General State Administration plans the incorporation of new personnel. It sets the maximum number of positions that can be announced in the different bodies, civil service scales and labor personnel during 2026.
When can the selective processes of the 2026 Public Employment Offer be announced?
The approval of RD 387/2026, published and in force since May 7, 2026, authorizes ministries and bodies to announce the corresponding selective processes throughout fiscal year 2026.
What limits does the 2026 Public Employment Offer have regarding the number of positions?
The 2026 Public Employment Offer must respect the limitations of the staff replacement rate set in the General State Budget Law. That rate determines how many positions can be offered based on vacancies in the public workforce.
Who is directly affected by the 2026 Public Employment Offer?
It directly affects job applicants and public employment aspirants, active civil servants who may participate in internal promotion processes, labor personnel of the State Administration and the ministries and bodies themselves that must announce and manage selective processes.
Where can I consult the complete 2026 Public Employment Offer?
The complete regulation is available in the Official State Gazette: Royal Decree 387/2026
Official source
Disclaimer: This article provides informational content about Royal Decree 387/2026 and the 2026 Public Employment Offer. The information contained herein is based on the official text published in the Official State Gazette. For official and complete information, consult the Official State Gazette directly. This content does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance on how this regulation applies to your particular situation, consult with a qualified legal professional or HR advisor. The author and publisher are not responsible for any decisions made based on this information or for any consequences arising from its use.