More busy, more immigrants and more wealth

Sometimes, and especially from some political positions, the incorporation of immigrants into the labor market is presented as a zero-sum game. This means, according to game theory, that what some gain, others lose, and vice versa. From the most radical positions, newcomers are labeled as a threat to natives in the labor and social sphere. If many arrive, they take jobs at the expense of the native-born population, they claim. And they are also identified as greater beneficiaries of public benefits than contributors and payers.

But the data, just as the regularization process ends, does not reinforce these theses. The increase in immigration in recent years, with people generally of working age and therefore contributors, has not only boosted the growth of the economy as a whole, measured by gross domestic product (GDP). The data reveal that it has also boosted the distribution or dissemination of this wealth, as indicated by a study presented at an event organized by the General Council of Economists of Spain (CGE) and the Foundation for the Study of Applied Economics (Fedea). In fact, this analysis states that 0.5 points of the average annual GDP per capita growth between 2022 and 2025 is attributable to this group.

As stated by the president of the General Council of Economists of Spain, Miguel Ángel Vázquez Taín, "according to the data, migratory flows, if better utilized, could generate an even more positive and sustainable effect over time on our economy." From the study presented and the data from recent years, it is evident that immigration has made Spain the member country that contributes most to the demographic growth of the European Union. And also, beyond the demographic impact, that immigration has had an impact that can be considered "notable" on the growth of GDP and GDP per capita.

If we look at the labor market, the figures for June are quite positive. In fact, affiliates in Catalonia exceeded the barrier of 4 million for the first time. According to data from the Ministry of Social Security, the number of people contributing was 4.01 million in Catalonia. One of the driving forces behind this situation, which is combined with a new reduction in unemployment, not an increase, is the start of the summer campaign. In the last year, 102,763 additional workers have been gained in the Catalan labor market.

At the state level, the trend is also very positive. The number of affiliates to Social Security once again broke records, reaching 22.46 million, after adding 128,533 employed in one month and achieving one of the best months of June in the historical series. And unemployment has fallen below 2.3 million for the first time since 2008, before the financial crisis erupted. Foreigners added 86,630 affiliates across the State and now represent 3.45 million employed, contributing more to fund the pension system.

We are therefore living, despite the political turbulence, especially at the state level, a good economic moment, with a record number of employed, a growing trend in terms of immigrants, and an impulse of wealth. Now we should focus more on industry and economic activities with higher added value that increase productivity and, therefore, not only for growth but also for prosperity and progress.