Spain surpasses 3 million foreign workers registered with Social Security for the first time

Jun 30, 2025 | Current affairs, Featured, Interview, Portada, Post, Revista Lloseta, Thursday Daily Bulletin, Tradition


In May 2025, the number of foreign affiliates reached 3,070,831, representing 14.1% of all contributors. After adjusting for seasonality and calendar effects, the figure stands at 2,972,086.

Since the 2022 labour reform, 41% of new jobs have been filled by foreign workers. Over the past ten years, foreign affiliation has increased by 84.6%, with a 118% rise among non-EU nationals.

Temporary employment has dropped to historic lows, with only 11.3% of foreign affiliates holding temporary contracts (compared to 12% for nationals).

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Spain surpasses 3 million foreign workers registered with Social Security for the first time

The sectors with the highest growth in foreign worker affiliation include:

  • Transport and Storage (+25.4%)
  • Construction (+8.6%)
  • Financial Activities (+8.9%)
  • Information and Communications (+5.7%)

31% of affiliates are from EU countries. The top countries of origin are Morocco, Romania, Colombia, Italy, Venezuela, and China. Women account for 43.5% of all foreign workers, a number that continues to rise.

Foreign self-employment also hits a record high:
In May, 484,062 foreign self-employed workers were registered—6.5% more than in 2024. The largest increases are seen in high-skilled sectors:

  • +31.9% in Information and Communications
  • +17.7% in Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities