Spain Champions Faster Immigrant Integration to Boost Economic Growth

Carlos Cuerpo, Spain's Minister of Economy, Commerce, and Enterprise, has emphasized the crucial role of immigrant integration in driving Spain's economic recovery and growth. Highlighting data from the Bank of Spain, Cuerpo noted that immigration contributed to a 0.7% increase in per capita GDP between 2022 and 2024, accounting for nearly one-third of the economic impact generated by native workers. Historical precedents, such as the 2005-2006 immigrant regularization, demonstrated immigrants’ positive impact with net fiscal contributions averaging €4,000 per person.

Spain's economy is recovering more swiftly than other major EU nations post-COVID-19, with projections that around 40% of new jobs created in the Eurozone in 2025 will be in Spain—a country representing 10% of the Eurozone economy. This robust job creation coincides with a rise in business formations, climbing from 8,000 to nearly 11,000 monthly new enterprises, supported by structural reforms including the 'Crea y Crece' law.

Cuerpo stressed that this macroeconomic growth is translating into tangible benefits for households, especially those with lower incomes, though challenges such as poverty and youth unemployment persist. Spanish exports have shown resilience amidst global challenges, further bolstering economic outlooks. The minister urged advancing the "best and fastest" immigrant integration to meet labor demands and counteract demographic aging, underpinning sustainable national growth.