Migrant workers in Spain are still earning much less than local residents, even though the gap is slowly improving. New data from trade unions shows that foreign workers continue to face pay inequality, especially in southern regions like Malaga.
According to the union Comisiones Obreras, migrant workers in Malaga earn about 29 percent less than Spanish nationals. On average, local workers earn around 20,974 euros per year, while migrants earn about 16,246 euros. This means migrants earn roughly 5,000 euros less each year.
Although the gap has reduced from over 38 percent in 2022, the difference is still large. Experts say the improvement is mainly due to increases in the national minimum wage, which has helped many low-income workers, including migrants. However, deeper problems in the labour market still exist.
One major reason for the wage gap is the type of jobs migrants do. Many foreign workers are employed in temporary or part-time roles. On average, migrants work about 64 percent of full-time hours, while local workers average 77 percent. This means migrants not only earn less per hour but also work fewer hours overall.
The inequality is even worse for women. Female migrant workers often earn much less than male workers, showing a strong gender gap within the migrant workforce. Many also earn very low incomes, with nearly half of migrant workers in Malaga making less than 10,000 euros per year.
Despite these challenges, migrants play an important role in Spain’s economy. In Malaga alone, more than 121,000 foreign workers are employed, making up about 16.5 percent of the workforce. They contribute billions of euros to the local economy, especially in sectors like agriculture, retail, and hospitality.
The wage gap is even wider in the larger region of Andalusia, where migrants earn about 7,400 euros less than locals. At the national level, the difference is higher, showing that the issue is widespread across the country.
At the same time, the Spanish government is planning a major regularization program to help undocumented migrants. Under this plan, migrants will be able to apply for residence and work permits through special service points at post offices and Social Security offices.
The government estimates that about 500,000 people could benefit from this program, although some experts believe the number could be closer to 840,000. The process will be managed by the Ministry of Migration, and officials aim to complete applications within three months.
This new policy is expected to bring many migrants into the formal economy, giving them better job security and legal protection. However, concerns remain about delays and whether the system can handle such a large number of applications.
Overall, while Spain is taking steps to improve conditions for migrants, the issue of wage inequality remains a major challenge that still needs long-term solutions.