Spain has recently been one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, and forecasts from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in September – paint a pretty rosy picture. Inflation has come down significantly recently – and at a relatively low level.

One reason for the growth is a wave of skilled immigrants from Latin America, which has eased labor shortages in sectors such as technology and hospitality.

Sanchez likes to break barriers

Immigration is not just a humanity issue, the Social Democratic prime minister told parliament on Wednesday: “It is essential to the prosperity of our economy and the sustainability of the welfare state.”

Spain will work with a series of measures to facilitate the arrival of migrants. These include recognizing educational qualifications, simplifying contracts under the new labor migration program and reducing bureaucratic burdens when applying for a residence permit, Sanchez said. He also announced plans for better integration and intercultural coexistence.

Labor shortage despite high unemployment rate

“Nearly half of our communities are at risk of depopulation,” Sanchez said: “We have elderly people who need a caregiver and can’t find one. Companies looking for programmers, technicians and masons who can’t find them. There’s no need to close rural schools that need children.

Low-skilled immigrants help the economy by working in “invisible jobs.” Without them, sectors such as construction, agriculture and hospitality would collapse, Sanchez said. The unemployment rate, currently at 11.3 percent, is one of the highest in the entire EU, but Spain’s lowest in 15 years.

Bring forward the EU migration deal

In his speech he recalled the exodus of two million people from Spain during the Franco era. Being “the welcoming, tolerant and supportive community they want to find” is now almost an obligation.

Sánchez also announced that Spain will ask the European Commission to introduce a migration agreement within a year of 2025. After that, EU member states will distribute migrants and asylum seekers based on gross domestic product (GDP), population size and other criteria.

Criticism of the opposition parties

But anti-immigrant sentiment is also on the rise in Spain. In a recent survey published by El Pais newspaper, 57 percent of respondents said there are too many immigrants in the country. The right-wing populist Vox won 12.4 percent of the vote in last year’s election.

Party leader Santiago Abascal blames immigration for the increase in violent crime, and continues to warn of an overburdening of the social system: “They tell us that migrant workers are needed, but they don’t tell us that young Spanish workers often have to. Leave Spain and meet the needs. Go here to do,” said Abascal. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the opposition conservative People’s Party (PP), which is currently clearly ahead in the polls, criticized the Sanchez government for its inaction on illegal migration to the Canary Islands.