The number of foreign self-employed workers in Extremadura has risen from 2,624 to 3,560 in four years, while the number of Spanish nationals has decreased from 78,378 to 78,183.
Foreign self-employed workers have grown by 35.7% in Extremadura between July 2022 and July 2026, according to data from the Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA) reported by El Periódico Extremadura. During the same period, the number of Spanish self-employed workers has decreased by 0.2%, with 195 fewer workers.
In absolute terms, the foreign group increased from 2,624 to 3,560 affiliated with the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA). The number of Spaniards dropped from 78,378 to 78,183, and the total in the community rose from 81,002 to 81,743, a net gain of 741 affiliates.
The data was presented during the event for the first Ibero-American Talent Map in Extremadura, promoted by Extremestiza, which was attended by the Minister of Economy, Employment and Digital Transformation, Guillermo Santamaría. According to UPTA, without the contribution of foreigners, the community would have fewer self-employed workers today than it did four years ago.
The proportion of this group has increased from 3.2% to 4.4% of the total self-employed workers in Extremadura, which equates to one in every 23. Nationally, Spain added 132,466 foreign self-employed workers and lost 7,630 Spaniards during the same period, with foreigners representing 15.4% of the RETA.
UPTA believes that this data justifies including foreign entrepreneurship in generational transition policies, especially in small towns, where some businesses and services are at risk of disappearing due to the retirement of their owners.
You may also like
