The Permanent Immigration Observatory counts 346,374 foreign individuals with residency rights affiliated to Social Security as of June 30, 2026, a 93% increase from the previous year. They represent 65% of this working-age group, the highest percentage since September 2023.
346,374 foreign individuals with residency rights were affiliated to Social Security as of June 30, 2026, marking an increase of 93% compared to the same month the previous year, according to the latest statistics from the Permanent Immigration Observatory (OPI), under the Ministry of Migration, as reported by El Faro de La Palma.
The total number of individuals incorporated into the labour market at the reference date represents 65% of this working-age group, meaning individuals aged 16 or older. This is the highest recorded affiliation percentage since September 2023, according to OPI data.
By category, 43% of the affiliated individuals (148,445) hold a social-labour residency permit, followed by family residency permits at 37% (129,521).
The total number of individuals with a valid residency permit, whether working or not, rises to 542,953 at the end of the first half of the year, a 54.7% increase from June 2025. Of these, 45% correspond to family residency, which remains the predominant category, followed by the new social-labour residency at 33%.
“Residency is a valuable tool that allows us to connect the needs of the labour market with individuals who have already established stable ties to our society”
This was stated by the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz.
By nationality, Colombia, Morocco, and Peru account for the highest number of affiliated individuals with residency rights, with 28%, 15%, and 10% of the total, respectively.
The sectors that hire the most are hospitality, with 19% of the affiliated individuals, followed by construction (14%), household activities as employers of domestic staff (13%), administrative activities and auxiliary services (12%), and commerce (11%).
In terms of gender, women represent 45% of the affiliated individuals with residency rights (154,507), compared to 55% of men (191,867). In both cases, affiliation has grown significantly in the past year: 93.7% among men and 92.7% among women.
The Observatory also updates statistics on unaccompanied minors and young people aged 16 to 23 with valid residency permits, which total 22,395 as of June 30, 2026. 61% of this group is incorporated into the labour market, a percentage that rises to 71% among those aged 18 to 23 who have already exited the protection system. Among minors aged 16 and 17, still within the system, affiliation has grown from 15% to 17% in the past year.
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