Else Beekman
The Spanish labour market continues to become increasingly international. In February, the Social Security system recorded nearly 3 million foreigners working in Spain. This is a new record and an increase of 15,804 compared to the previous month. The share of foreign workers in Spain now stands at 13.8% of the total, an increase of six-tenths compared to a year ago.
Since the introduction of the labour market reform in 2022, the number of foreign workers in Spain has grown by over 600,000, an increase of no less than 26.6%. In total, 44.1% of new jobs created in the past three years have gone to foreigners. This growth aligns with the broader trend of economic expansion and labour shortages in various sectors.
Self-employed workers playing an increasingly important role
A striking development is the increase in the number of foreign self-employed workers. In February alone, 4,204 foreign entrepreneurs were added, bringing their total to 471,559. This represents an 8.2% increase compared to last year. Foreigners now account for 16.4% of all self-employed workers in Spain. Growth has been particularly notable in sectors such as information and communication (+34.5%) and scientific and technical professions (+17.3%).
Foreign workers represented in all sectors
The majority of foreign workers (83.4%) are employed and fall under the general Social Security scheme. The strongest growth has been observed in sectors such as transport and storage (+24.9%), water management (+11.9%), and administrative activities (+9.7%). Construction (+9.4%) and hospitality (+9.1%) also continue to attract many foreign workers.
Ukrainians and other nationalities increasingly represented
A notable group among foreign workers are Ukrainians. In February, 73,231 Ukrainians were registered with the Social Security system, an increase of 54% compared to February 2022, just before the start of the war. Most Ukrainian workers (82.1%) are employed, while 17.9% work as self-employed.
Foreign workers and Spain’s economic growth
Recent reports highlight that Spain’s economic expansion, which has outpaced major European nations since 2023, is significantly driven by immigration and foreign workers. According to JP Morgan, Latin American migrants have become a key factor in this growth, seamlessly integrating into the labour market due to cultural and linguistic ties.
Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 750,000 migrants arrived, filling essential roles in tourism, technology, and services. Their skills and strong work ethic contribute to Spain’s growing economy, particularly in technical and service-based industries. With an ageing population, continued immigration is expected to play a crucial role in maintaining workforce levels and sustaining Spain’s upward economic trajectory.
Also read: Spanish economy continues to grow amid global uncertainty