Latin American Workers in Spain Surpass One Million with Diverse Employment Profiles
Latin American workers in Spain exceed one million, with varied employment across sectors and regions amid growing labor market significance.
- • Over one million Latin American workers are registered with Spanish Social Security.
- • Colombians, Venezuelans, and Peruvians are the most numerous Latin American nationalities in Spain.
- • Latin Americans work in both low-paid roles and increasingly in advanced sectors like technology and marketing.
- • There is regional variation in their distribution, with Madrid having a high presence versus low numbers in regions like Extremadura.
Key details
As of 2025, Spain hosts over one million Latin American workers registered with Social Security, making them the second largest group of foreign workers in the country. This demographic has more than doubled since 2019, indicating a significant growth in the Latin American workforce. Colombians, Venezuelans, and Peruvians lead in numbers, with approximately 253,000, 207,000, and 99,000 affiliates respectively.
This influx boosts various sectors of the Spanish economy. While many Latin Americans work in traditionally low-paid and precarious jobs such as caregiving and hospitality, an increasing number are entering advanced fields like technology and marketing. For instance, caregivers like Azucena Carhuajulca represent the group concentrated in less stable roles, whereas professionals such as Jessica Klejman showcase the community's expansion into higher-paying sectors.
Sociologist Mônica Monguí highlights the essential role Latin Americans play in sectors including care, hospitality, and construction, although she notes a clear ethno-stratification in the labor market. This results in disparities in job stability and wages for Latin American workers compared to other groups.
Regionally, Latin American employment patterns vary sharply. Madrid stands out as a hub where Latin Americans form a significant portion of the workforce, contrasting with regions like Extremadura, where their presence remains minimal. The future trajectory of Latin American labor participation in Spain will largely depend on domestic labor market conditions and socio-economic dynamics in their countries of origin.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.