Foreign self-employed workers in A Coruña total 1,633 in August 2026, up from 959 in January 2022. During the same period, Spanish self-employed workers fell from 14,209 to 13,921.
According to data from the Xunta collected by laopinioncoruna.es, the foreign self-employed residing in A Coruña increased from 959 in January 2022 to 1,633 in August 2026, representing a 70% increase in less than five years. This is the most recent figure from the available statistics.
In the same period, the Spanish self-employed in the city decreased from 14,209 to 13,921. Employment in general is growing: Social Security records 98,557 affiliates in the province of A Coruña in August 2026, about 10,000 more than in January 2022. The largest percentage increase corresponds to foreigners, who rose from around 5,360 to over 11,440 affiliates, while Spanish workers increased by nearly 4,000, surpassing 87,100.
For the president of ATA-Galicia, Rafael Granados, the ageing of self-employed workers is a nationwide phenomenon, and the lack of national replacements is being compensated by workers arriving from abroad. Granados points out that the Xunta is attracting talent from South American countries, and claims that there are many Venezuelan entrepreneurs in Galicia who already had businesses in their home country.
“In ten years, 30 to 40% could retire”
Granados also notes that traditional commerce is suffering from competition from online shopping, rising rents, and the costs of supplies and raw materials. According to him, registering as a content creator is much less costly than opening a local shop.
Regarding the new generations, the representative of ATA-Galicia believes that “most young people avoid risk” and that the image of the entrepreneur as someone abusive has dampened their interest in starting businesses.
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