Spain Has Highest Rate of Foreigners Participating in Labour Market Among EU Countries

The participation of migrants living in Spain in 2023 was one of the highest among EU countries, reaching 78 per cent, EU Helpers reports.

Moreover, the Bank of Spain noted that the participation rate of migrant workers was higher than that of Spaniards.

50% of Foreigners in Spain Are Overqualified

Foreigners in Spain also tend to have a higher level of education than those living in other EU countries, such as Germany and Italy.

Citing Eurostat data, the Bank of Spain noted that 43 per cent of foreigners who entered the country in 2022 have higher education.

In addition, Spain has a high share of overqualified foreigners compared to other EU countries. More specifically, 50 per cent of immigrants living in Spain are overqualified. Italy also has the same percentage of overqualified foreigners, while in the case of Germany and France, this figure stands at 30 per cent.

The organisation, as cited by Diariocritico, highlights “a certain under-utilisation of human capital”, as the share of overqualified migrant workers is higher compared to that of nationals in all host countries in the EU.

Foreigners Tend to Work in Roles That Do Not Require a High Level of Training

Although a significant number of foreigners are highly educated, the report reveals that foreigners in Spain and other EU countries tend to work in roles that do not require a high level of training.

As further explained, foreigners tend to concentrate particularly on domestic service and the hospitality industry. However, the number of foreigners working in these industries has decreased over the years.

According to the Bank of Spain, the share of migrants working in communication, manufacturing, trade, or health has risen since 2008, while the percentage of those working in domestic service and hospitality has dropped from 22 to nine per cent.

Spain is considered one of the EU countries with the highest foreign population. According to the Spanish Statistical Office (INE), the foreign population in Spain reached 8.8 million in January 2024, representing 17 per cent of the total population.