Migrants accounted for nearly half of economic growth in Spain and the EU. Since 2022, foreign workers have generated 40% of GDP growth in the EU. In Spain, their contribution was crucial in offsetting the decline in the local working-age population.
In recent years, Spain and other European Union countries have faced a significant decline in the working-age population. Against this backdrop, migrants have become the main driver of economic and employment growth. According to BBVA Research, since 2022, two-thirds of new jobs in the EU have been filled by foreigners, and their contribution to GDP growth has reached 40% annually. In Spain, Germany, and Portugal, the role of newcomers has been particularly significant: without their participation, the labor markets in these countries might have contracted.
According to the study, between 2022 and 2025, total employment growth in the EU will amount to 1.3%, nine-tenths of which will be provided by migrants. This is a marked contrast to the pre-pandemic situation, when most new jobs were filled by locals. In Spain, according to BBVA Research, the influx of migrants helped mitigate the decline in the working-age population, which dropped by 1.6% during this period.
At the same time, the structure of migration flows varies by country. Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria have received a significant number of Ukrainian citizens, while Spain and Portugal have become primary destinations for migrants from Latin America. In Spain, most new arrivals are from Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru, and in Portugal—from Brazil.
From 2020 to 2024, 11 million migrants arrived in the EU, which is 13% more compared to the previous period. In just 2022–2024, 6.2 million people came to Europe—almost twice as many as in the seven years before the pandemic. Spain became the main recipient: the average annual influx of migrants here exceeded previous years by 800,000 people.
Despite the economic importance of migration, support for parties opposing the influx of foreigners is growing in several EU countries. This trend is particularly noticeable in Italy, France, Germany, and Spain itself. However, as noted by BBVA Research, it was migrants who helped the EU through the difficult years following the pandemic and the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.
Migration issues and their impact on the economy and politics remain at the forefront of European media. For example, in a piece on diplomatic risks related to Venezuela, the links between Spanish politicians and Latin American countries were examined, highlighting the relevance of the topic for Spain.
To understand the scale of what is happening, it is important to note that without migration, the workforce in most EU countries would have continued to shrink. Only Ireland, France, and Denmark were exceptions. In other countries, especially Portugal, Germany, Austria, and Spain, it is foreigners who have become the foundation for maintaining economic activity. According to Eurostat, by 2025 the share of foreigners in Spain's workforce exceeded 18%, and in Germany, 17%. This reflects not only demographic challenges but also structural changes in the labor market that will shape the region's economy in the coming years.
