..the other side... I'm self employed here and have been so for the last 2 1/2 years (time flies!)

As self employed (Autonomo) you have to pay your own social security (about 240 ish euros a month) and do your own accounts (or, much easier, employ a Gestor to do it all for you).  

Work is obviously dependent on your skills etc., most of mine now comes from recommendation and from previous customers. I do pretty much all 'technical' stuff such as satellite TV, plumbing, electrical work, air conditioning, fix computers/tv's/satellite recievers, develop web sites and a few other things as well - there are lots of English builders, I don't do any building!

If you have skills that are in short supply then you'll have little problem building up from scratch.

Nigel