Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, Elma Saiz, announced that the Social Security system recorded two million nine hundred seventy-six thousand seventy-four foreign affiliates in March. This figure reflects an increase of four thousand two hundred sixty-three for the month and a total increase of one hundred ninety thousand six hundred one over the last year, representing over forty-one percent of total employment growth as the overall number of occupied positions rose by one hundred sixty-one thousand four hundred ninety-one.

Minister Saiz emphasised the importance of foreign workers in the Spanish economy, stating they occupy a significant role not only in strategic sectors but also increasingly contribute to high-value activities. She noted that more than four in ten new jobs created in the last year have been filled by individuals who chose Spain as their workplace, highlighting the importance of regular migration for economic growth.

The data indicates that foreign workers now represent thirteen point nine percent of the total workforce, an increase of seven-tenths compared to a year ago. For the first quarter of this year, the Social Security system added eight thousand four hundred twenty-three foreign self-employed workers. The significant increase in foreign affiliates in Spain has been particularly pronounced in the Information and Communications sector, which experienced a growth of thirty-three point nine percent.

Looking at the distribution by nationality, the majority of foreign workers come from Morocco, Romania, and Colombia, among others. The number of Ukrainian affiliates has notably grown as well, with over seventy-four thousand registered; this represents a sixty percent increase since February of last year. The Minister concluded that the presence of foreign affiliates demonstrates their vital contribution to Spain’s social security and overall economic stability.