Labour market participation among unaccompanied migrant minors and young people leaving the child protection system has increased significantly in recent years. According to the latest figures published by the Permanent Immigration Observatory (PIO), 62% of individuals aged 16 to 23 holding a valid residence permit were registered with the Social Security system as of 30 September 2025, marking a rise of 35 percentage points since 2021.

The legal reform enacted through Royal Decree 903/2021 allowed unaccompanied minors over the age of 16 to work legally. Since then, Social Security affiliation has grown from 27% in June 2021 (2,110 individuals) to 62% in June 2025 (12,559 individuals), representing an increase of more than 10,000 workers.

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Employment rates among former foster youths and unaccompanied migrant minors rise sharply following the 2021 reform

The most pronounced growth has been observed among young people aged 18 to 23 who have left the protection system. In this group, the affiliation rate increased from 34% in June 2021 to 72% in September 2025, a rise of over 38 percentage points.

The Observatory’s report also highlights substantial growth across all economic sectors. Between 2022 and 2025, employment increased by 85% in hospitality, doubled in manufacturing, and rose by 76% in commerce and vehicle repair. Hospitality remains the main source of employment, accounting for 30% of jobs, followed by administrative activities and auxiliary services at 15%.

Age-specific data show that half of working minors aged 16 and 17 are employed in hospitality, while former foster youths are more evenly distributed across sectors: 29% in hospitality, 15% in administrative services and 12% in construction.

From a demographic perspective, the report identifies 20,116 unaccompanied minors and former foster youths aged 16 to 23 with valid residence permits as of September 2025. This represents a 19.4% increase compared to the previous year and a 155% rise since the 2021 reform took effect. Women continue to represent a small share of the group, at just 6%. In terms of nationality, the proportion of individuals from Morocco has declined from 76% in 2021 to 54% in 2025, followed by nationals from Gambia and Algeria.