Moroccans rank second in terms of the number of foreigners registered for social security in Spain, and first in terms of workers from outside the European Union (EU).
According to the Spanish Ministry of Labour, Migration and Social Security, there were 285,501 Moroccans affiliated to social security in Spain at the end of last June, i.e. foreign workers from outside the community who contribute the most. Data from the guardianship further indicates that, the largest groups of foreign workers in Spain come from Romania (339,053), followed by Morocco (285,046), then Italy (163,826), Colombia (122,192 ) and Venezuela (118,147) then carry this podium. The number of Moroccan workers in Spain affiliated with social security decreased slightly compared to the end of December last, since their number was estimated at around 300,000 people against 285,501 currently.
Of all the foreign workers contributing to Spanish social security, some 1,606,752 people come from non-EU countries and 856,138 come from European Union countries. Overall, foreign workers accounted for 11.8% of the total number of people registered with Social Security in June in seasonally adjusted values. The aforementioned ministry said Spanish social security lost 11,398 foreign branches last June. This left the total number of foreign workers at 2,451,492 and broke the upward trend of the past six months.
The same data indicates that the total number of foreign affiliates came from the European Union and their number reached 846,484, or 34.5%. It is also said that the number is significantly higher for those who come from outside the Continent, and their number reached one million 1,605,008, a rate of 65.5%. In gender, men come first and their number reached 1,368,384, or 55.8%, while the number of women reached 1,830,108, or 44.2%.
Spain’s Ministry of Labour, Migration and Social Security also stated that the average affiliation of workers from other countries has increased, in the last twelve months, by 10.1%, or a total of 224,907 workers. Spain is currently considering a government proposal to reform immigration systems to make it easier for thousands of immigrants to enter the labor market. The government project aims, according to the same source, to facilitate the employment of workers and facilitate work permits for migrants already residing in Spanish territory.
The project also plans to allow foreign students to find job opportunities and regularize the legal status of irregular migrants present in Spain after receiving training in sectors in need of employment. Sectors such as transport, construction, hospitality or digital activities are experiencing great difficulty in finding workers.
The employers believe that “the procedures for bringing in workers from abroad are impossible, and it makes sense to act by integrating foreigners who are in Spain. For the last six months, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), some 879,943 Moroccans were legally established in Spain until January 1, 2022, up 0.8% (7,184 people) compared to January 1. of 2021. Moroccans have thus maintained their position as the first foreign community legally settled in the Iberian country. They represent 16% of foreigners established in Spain.