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Catalonia emerges as the top destination for foreign job seekers in Spain
In recent years, Catalonia has established itself as the premier choice for foreigners seeking employment in Spain. According to new data, 24 percent of individuals who arrived in Spain since 2015 have opted to settle in this northeastern region, surpassing Madrid, which attracts 20.3 percent of job seekers.
Catalonia is particularly appealing to European citizens, with 29.5 percent of newcomers from Europe choosing to reside there. Furthermore, 22.6 percent of foreign workers from other parts of the globe have made Catalonia their home. This trend can be attributed to various factors, including its status as a major tourist hub and its cosmopolitan atmosphere. The hospitality sector, where jobs are plentiful, employs a significant number of foreigners; nearly half of waiters and shopkeepers in Catalonia are not native to Spain.
The presence of multinational corporations in Barcelona further enhances the region's appeal, where English is commonly spoken in business environments. Data from Social Security in March 2025 indicates a record high of 2.9 million foreign workers in Spain, marking an increase of 1,357,862 since March 2015—an impressive 86.9 percent growth over the past decade.
Of those newly registered with Spain's social security system, 69.3 percent have settled in one of the four regions boasting the greatest job opportunities: Catalonia (325,240 workers), Madrid (276,007), Valencia (171,615), and Andalusia (168,138). However, Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras estimates that around 160,000 non-EU foreigners are working illegally in Catalonia alone.
Following these leading regions, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands attract 4.1 percent and 3.8 percent of foreign workers, respectively. Other regions, such as Basque Country and Aragón, hold smaller shares of 3.7 percent and 3.5 percent, while Navarre, Asturias, and Extremadura have seen the fewest foreign arrivals since 2015.
Interestingly, 20 percent of job-seeking foreigners in Spain over the last decade have come from EU countries, while the remaining 80 percent hail from outside the EU. Catalonia retains its top position for European citizens, housing nearly one-third of the total. In contrast, Andalusia has welcomed only 6.2 percent of Europeans, compared to 13.9 percent of non-EU nationals.
The diversity in Madrid reflects a balanced mix, with 21 percent from the EU and 20.2 percent from third countries. Valencia has a slightly higher proportion of Europeans at 14.9 percent, compared to 12.1 percent from non-EU regions. The Canary Islands and Balearic Islands show a notable presence of non-EU workers, while Murcia and the Basque Country have more EU residents.
Despite challenges related to depopulation in certain Spanish regions, the increase in foreign workers, particularly in northern and central areas, is a positive sign. Galicia, for instance, has witnessed the most significant growth, with a remarkable 142.8 percent increase in registered workers over the past decade.
Upcoming immigration reforms set to take effect in May 2025 promise to streamline the regularization process for migrants living in Spain without documentation, likely resulting in a further rise in the official numbers of foreign workers.
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