Spain: Moroccans Remain the Largest Community of Foreign Workers

Spain Sets New Record for Foreign Employment

Spain has achieved a new historic milestone in foreign employment. According to the latest data from the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, the number of foreign workers registered with the Social Security system reached 3.36 million in May 2026, marking an annual increase of nearly 289,000 individuals.

This growth is primarily driven by the agriculture and hospitality sectors, which continue to rely heavily on foreign labor to meet their recruitment needs. The increase in foreign employment has hit 9.4% over the past year, significantly outpacing the growth rate of the overall Spanish labor market.

In this context, Morocco remains the leading country of origin for foreign workers affiliated with the Spanish Social Security system. Currently, nearly 420,000 Moroccans contribute to the Spanish system, followed by Romanian, Colombian, and Venezuelan nationals.

Foreign workers now constitute 14.7% of all contributors to the Social Security in Spain. Their presence is particularly notable in several key sectors of the Spanish economy, including hospitality, agriculture, and construction.

Spanish authorities emphasize that this workforce plays a vital role in the country’s economic growth and in the functioning of many sectors facing increasing personnel demands. This trend also underscores the significance of the Moroccan community in the Spanish labor market, where it remains the largest foreign workforce.

This development illustrates the growing influence of Moroccan workers in the Spanish economy and their contribution to the development of strategic sectors, while also strengthening the economic and human ties between the two countries.