World Immigration News

Immigration and the labour market in Spain

Release Date: 2026-03-17
Media: Real Instituto Elcano
Summary: Spain’s immigrant population has surpassed 9 million, growing by about 600,000 annually since the pandemic. Immigrants now make up 23% of the workforce and have filled around 90% of newly created jobs since 2024, playing a crucial role in sustaining the economy and population.

However, many immigrants have relatively low educational attainment and are concentrated in low-skilled sectors such as hospitality, retail, construction, and domestic work. These sectors increasingly depend on immigrant labor, while immigrants generally face lower employment rates and higher unemployment than native Spaniards.

There are also significant integration challenges, particularly among second-generation immigrants, who show high school dropout rates and weaker educational outcomes. This raises concerns about their future labor market prospects and broader social integration.

Overall, while immigration supports Spain’s demographic and economic stability, it also highlights structural issues such as labor market segmentation and integration difficulties.
Tags: Spain

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