In the next ten years, Spain will need to attract 2.4 million new employees to maintain its current level of productivity. Given the projected decline in the local working-age population, the vast majority of these positions will be filled by newcomers. As a result, foreign workers have become crucial for meeting the demands of the labor market.
According to the latest analytical data, eight out of ten people who have arrived in Spain since the start of the 21st century have successfully integrated into the economically active population. The government presents the country’s migration model as an example for Europe and beyond, highlighting its balance, effectiveness, and humanity. Officials insist that this approach benefits overall prosperity, and that state policy in this sphere is based solely on proven data and thorough analysis.
Experts from the Economic and Social Council confirm that since 2019, Spain’s immigration processes have entered a more mature stage. After the record figures registered in 2024, growth rates slowed somewhat in 2025 and show a downward trend. The influx of foreigners is seen as having an overwhelmingly positive impact on economic growth, employment, productivity, and demographics. This has been largely facilitated by legislative reforms around foreigners’ rights adopted in 2022 and 2024.
Today, migrants make up one fifth of Spain’s total population, and their contribution to economic growth, the labor market, and the pension system is considered indispensable. Regional statistics highlight this: the share of foreign workers among all Social Security contributors reaches 7.4% in Asturias, 10.4% in Castilla y León, and 7.1% in Galicia—regions facing the most acute demographic challenges.
In total, more than 3.1 million foreigners are currently employed in Spain—a million more than in 2018. Women account for 43% of this group, or 1,335,794 people. Notably, three out of four new jobs created in Spain since 2019 have gone to migrants. Over the past year, employment among foreigners under the general regime has risen by 7.3%, while the number of self-employed migrants has reached a historic high of 494,246. Growth is especially marked in highly skilled sectors: up 27% in information and communications, and 18.8% in scientific and technical professions.
