Catalonia's foreign workforce soars to 700,000, up 89% in a decade

Catalonia's foreign workforce reached a record 697,103 in December 2025, up 89% over the past decade.

Spanish government data shows the number of foreign workers has nearly doubled since December 2015, when it stood at 368,406.

The figure has risen 4.2% compared with December 2024.

Of the total, 502,900 (70%) come from outside the European Union, while 194,204 are EU citizens.

By nationality, Moroccans lead, with 84,279 workers, followed by Italians (61,800) and Romanians (46,800).

For non-EU nationals, Morocco is followed by Colombia, which has over 38,900 registered workers, and China, with over 36,300. Other notable countries include Pakistan (29,200), Venezuela (27,000), and Honduras (21,000).

Among EU citizens, after Italy and Romania, France accounts for roughly 46,800 registered workers, while Germany (12,048), Portugal (11,177), and Poland (7,268) also have a  significant presence.

Most foreign workers are registered under the general Social Security scheme, with more than 552,000 affiliates. Around 15% – just over 107,000 – are self-employed.