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Andalucía's foreign workforce tops nearly 400,000
Nearly 33,000 new contributors in a year as region claims 13% of Spain's total
Andalucía now has 398,638 foreign workers registered with Spain's social security system, according to the latest February figures from the Ministry for Social Security. That's 32,109 more than a year ago, an 8.76% rise, and 8,227 extra from January alone, up 2.11%. The region accounts for 12.9% of the national total of 3,076,841 foreign contributors, which grew by 202,443 over the past year.Men make up 58.4% of the total (232,995), while women represent 41.55% (165,642). Morocco and Romania lead as countries of origin. Notably, 71.5% of the men and 68% of the women (112,799) come from outside the EU.
By province, Málaga has the largest number at 121,126, up 10.7% or 11,703 workers year-on-year. Almería follows with 86,392, a 2.24% increase adding 1,897. Jaén saw the biggest proportional jump at 40.4% growth since February 2025, gaining 5,483 to reach 19,054.
Nationally, foreign workers have surged from 800,000 in February 2022 to over 3 million today. Since Spain's labour reform, 43.7% of all new jobs have gone to foreign workers, showing their growing role in the economy.
For communities across Andalucía, from the Costa del Sol to Almería greenhouses and Jaén's olive groves, this reflects a region where international labour keeps essential sectors running. Málaga's numbers highlight tourism and services, while Almería and Jaén point to agriculture.
The steady rise continues a trend that's been building for years, with foreign contributors playing a key part in Spain's recovery and growth. Local businesses and households increasingly rely on this diverse workforce, from construction sites to care homes and farms.
These figures come as Andalucía maintains strong growth above the national 7% year-on-year average and highlight how foreign labour supports key sectors across Andalucía, from Málaga's tourism and services to Almería's agriculture and Jaén's olive industry.
Image: digital representation
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