Spain bets on migrant workforce to power its booming economy amid EU decline

Spain plans to legalise nearly 900,000 undocumented migrants over the next three years in a bid to expand its labour force and support its growing economy.
With an ageing population and labour shortages in key sectors, the Spanish government sees immigration as a potential driver of economic growth.
The move aims to create legal pathways for migrants to contribute to society and undercut people traffickers profiting from Europe's declining birth rates. However, the policy faces opposition from some parliamentary groups and segments of the population concerned about integration.
Despite being a divisive issue, more than half of Spaniards agree that immigration is vital for economic growth, particularly in booming sectors like construction and tourism.
The government's plan includes granting residence and work permits to half a million recently arrived migrants, allowing them to pay taxes and contribute to the economy.

Al Jazeera's Sonia Gallego reports from Barcelona, Spain.

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Post from Al Jazeera on July 06, 2025

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