Employment among foreign nationals has been growing at five times the average rate since April

Seven out of every ten jobs created in Spain over the past year went to foreign nationals. This data comes from the Social Security Administration. Behind this lies a phenomenon that had been simmering for some time and that the extraordinary process launched in April has ultimately accelerated.

The August figures leave little room for doubt. Enrollment of workers from other countries was growing at a year-over-year rate of 15.72 percent; for the system as a whole, the rate was 3.1 percent. In absolute terms, the number of foreign contributors reached 3,551,759—an all-time high—representing an increase of 482,490 people compared to a year earlier. Between July and August alone, 39,535 were added.

Regularization is behind much of this surge. Since it began, nearly 340,000 workers have been enrolled, and foreign nationals now account for nearly 16% of all enrolled workers—two percentage points more than twelve months ago. A long-term view confirms the trend: since June 2022, the number of foreign workers has grown by more than 1.2 million, and just over half of the jobs created since the labor reform belong to this group, according to the ministry headed by Elma Saiz.

How much of these figures represents real employment?

We need to pause here for a moment. Economists who track the data warn that not everything that appears in the enrollment records equates to new jobs. Some of these people were already working in the informal economy and have now simply come into the open; others would have registered anyway, even without the measure. That is why some analysts estimate that the actual impact on enrollment is significantly smaller than the headline suggests, and they expect the 15% growth rate to moderate in the coming quarters. That said, almost none of them see an end in sight: their models indicate that foreign enrollment will continue to rise.

Behind the figures lies a labor market with very specific needs. The hospitality, agricultural, and construction sectors are the ones that rely most heavily on foreign labor, in many cases to fill vacancies that companies are unable to fill with domestic workers. If you’re waiting for your immigration status to be regularized, check that your Social Security registration is correct and keep receipts for every month you’ve worked: these are the documents you’ll be asked for later to renew your status or for any subsequent procedures. And if your employer hasn’t registered you, don’t let it slide. Without Social Security contributions, you have no proof of your employment, and that puts you in a very vulnerable position. Take action.

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