The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration has published the employment affiliation data for February. Social Security registered 2,971,811 foreign workers during the month, marking the highest number recorded for February in history. This increase reflects the growing integration of foreign labor into the Spanish job market, with 15,804 more registered workers compared to the previous month. Of these, 4,204 are self-employed workers, a sector that has seen significant growth in recent months.
🔎 All statistical data on employment affiliation is available on the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration’s website. Access the information via the following link: link (in Spanish)
Foreign Workers represent 13.8% of Social Security contributors
The proportion of foreign workers contributing to Social Security continues to rise. They now account for 13.8% of all registered workers, an increase of 0.6 percentage points compared to last year. This growth highlights the essential role of international talent in various economic sectors across the country.
Significant growth in the self-employed sector
One of the most striking figures in February’s employment report is the increase in foreign self-employed workers. Over the past year, they have accounted for 90% of the total increase in self-employment in Spain. Currently, 471,559 foreign workers are registered under the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA), marking an 8.2% year-on-year increase.
The profile of foreign workers in Spain
Currently, 31.3% of all foreign workers in Spain come from the European Union. The most represented nationalities include Morocco, Romania, Colombia, Italy, Venezuela, and China.
Regarding gender distribution, of the nearly three million foreign workers, 1.6 million are men, and 1.2 million are women. Female employment has increased by 32.6% since before the pandemic (December 2019), now accounting for 43% of all foreign workers in Spain.
Increase in the number of Ukrainian workers
The war in Ukraine has led to a significant rise in the number of Ukrainian workers registered in Spain. Currently, 73,231 Ukrainian workers are affiliated with Social Security, representing a 54% increase since February 2022. Of these, 82.1% are salaried employees under the General Scheme, while 17.9% are self-employed workers.
Conclusion
The February employment data confirms the continued upward trend in foreign employment in Spain. With steady growth in both the General Scheme and the Self-Employed Regime, foreign workers play a crucial role in developing various economic sectors. The diversification of employment distribution and the impact of labor reforms reflect an increasingly globalized job market with a strong presence of international talent.