3 Million Foreign Workers and Counting

The number of foreign workers contributing to Social Security in Spain now totals about 3.1 million as of September. Official data shows this represents a growth of over 7% in the past year.More than 200,000 foreign workers have joined the system over the past 12 months, representing a 7.07% year-over-year increase.

Official data shows that foreign workers make up 14% of all Social Security contributors in Spain.

The number of self-employed (autonomo) foreigners rose 6.8%, higher than the overall self-employed growth of 1.1%.

This increase in foreign contributors is above the overall growth of Social Security affiliates, which rose by 2.4% in the past year. Regions with the fastest growth include Asturias (20.8%), Galicia (14.8%) and Castilla y León (13%). Women now represent 43.2% of foreign contributors, totalling over 1.33 million.

The majority of foreign workers (83.9%) are enrolled in the General Social Security Regime, including both employed and self-employed individuals. The rise in foreign self-employment reached a record 490,717 contributors, reflecting strong growth across several sectors.

The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration highlights that employment among foreign workers is growing faster than the national average and is especially significant in regions with higher demand.

For more detailed statistics, you can consult the Social Security database here