Spain’s labor market is undergoing significant changes: nearly all new jobs created since the beginning of 2024 have gone to newcomers. This is more than just a statistic—it’s a major shift in the employment structure that is already being felt in daily life and the national economy. According to Ale Espanol, it is migrants who have driven employment growth, helping Spain reach historic highs in the number of people working.
The country is now home to over 10 million people born outside Spain. Of these, 2.8 million have obtained citizenship, while the rest continue to shape the labor market as foreign workers. Their impact is especially notable in domestic services, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. In these sectors, the proportion of foreign workers exceeds that of locals, and in some industries, migrants even form the majority.
Statistics and trends
According to the latest data, 79% of new jobs in 2024 have been filled by migrants. In certain sectors, their presence is even greater: in domestic services, they make up 71%, with most being women from Latin America. In hospitality, foreigners hold 45% of positions, in construction—32%, and in agriculture—31%. The food industry also sees a high concentration of workers from abroad.
Overall, nearly half of all employed migrants come from Latin America, 19% are citizens of other EU countries, 17% are from Africa, 9% are Europeans from outside the EU, and 6% are from Asia. Over the past eight years, the number of foreigners in Spain has increased by almost two million, while the local population has declined due to low birth rates.
Impact on the economy
The large-scale recruitment of foreign labor has enabled Spain to reach record employment levels—almost 22 million people are registered in the social security system. In 2025 alone, 208,000 new foreign workers entered the labor market, accounting for 43% of all new jobs that year. According to Ale Espanol, a legalization process initiated by the government could add up to 1.25 million more migrant workers.
Another notable feature is that 17.6% of minimum income recipients are foreigners, totaling more than 420,000 people. A significant portion of their earnings is sent abroad: in 2024, migrants transferred €11.36 billion to their families, with most of this money going to Latin America and Africa.
Demographic changes
Spain is now home to 3.3 million children born in the country to at least one foreign parent. This is shaping a new generation that will influence society and the economy in the coming years. Of all the migrants living in Spain, Moroccans remain the largest group with over a million people, followed by Colombians (850,000).
Employment patterns among foreigners show a strong predominance of women in the domestic sector and men in construction and agriculture. In industry, migrants are most often employed in businesses related to food production.
According to Ale Espanol, out of 10 million migrants, 2.8 million have already obtained Spanish citizenship and are not included in the official foreign worker statistics. However, their contribution to the economy and society remains significant.
In recent years, Spain has been facing similar trends: a rise in the number of migrants, their growing share in key sectors, and active involvement in the domestic economy. For instance, 2022 and 2023 also saw a significant influx of foreign labor, helping to offset the decline in the local population and support the development of services and agriculture. Similar trends are observed across other European countries, where migration is becoming an important factor in sustaining economic growth and addressing demographic challenges.
