By hannover-web.com A group of Sub-Saharan African men fills a conference room at a hotel near León, Spain, where they’re enthusiastically playing bingo. The sound of laughter resonates through the room as numbers are called, but behind their smiles lie deeply moving stories of survival. One of the men, Michael, shared his escape from Ghana, where a violent feud resulted in the tragic deaths of his father and sister. His journey led him across land to Morocco, where he paid a trafficker to board an overcrowded inflatable boat destined for the Canary Islands.
“I was so happy because I knew all my troubles and the people trying to kill me were behind me,” Michael recounted. “Being in Spain means safety.” In Ghana, he worked as a petrol station attendant and storekeeper while pursuing studies in human resource management—an education he hopes to continue in Spain. “Spain is one of the most respected countries in the world. Being here is an opportunity for me,” he added.
The hotel in Villaquilambre that houses Michael and around 170 other asylum seekers has been transformed into a migrant center. Each year, thousands risk the perilous maritime route from Africa to Spain, with over 42,000 undocumented migrants arriving this year alone—a staggering 59% increase compared to 2023. Many have undertaken the hazardous journey to the Canary Islands, fueling significant political debates about immigration in Spain, where the far-right Vox party has labeled this trend an “invasion.”
Yet, this influx of migrants highlights a pressing concern for Spain’s economy, which is grappling with demographic challenges. Javier Díaz-Giménez, an economics professor at IESE Business School, explained how the post-war baby boom has created a situation where a generation is nearing retirement without enough younger workers to fill their shoes. “The next 20 years are going to be critical, as more people retire,” he stated, estimating that around 14.1 million individuals will retire within that timeframe.
To tackle the labor shortage, Díaz-Giménez recommends adopting models similar to Japan’s, which heavily invests in technology. He pointed out that immigration could serve as a valid solution for economic growth and pension sustainability. “If you want to grow GDP and pay pensions for retiring baby boomers, you need to approach growth differently,” he said.
Spain’s central bank supports this need, projecting that around 25 million immigrants will be required over the next 30 years. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been an advocate for the economic advantages of immigration, calling migrant workers essential to the country’s wealth and social security system. His coalition is pushing for a proposal to regularize up to 500,000 undocumented migrants, primarily from Latin America. Still, concerns persist among the Spanish public, with 41% expressing significant worries about immigration.
In Villaquilambre, the local migrant center illustrates the potential for asylum seekers to integrate into Spain’s workforce. After six months of residence, they are allowed to work, and organizations like the San Juan de Dios Foundation are dedicated to providing Spanish language training and job placement assistance. “Companies reach out because they know we have eager workers here,” shared Dolores Queiro from the organization.
One success story is Makan from Mali, who recently landed a job at GraMaLeon, a local business specializing in marble and granite products. He commutes to work on an electric scooter and expressed his gratitude: “I’m grateful to be working,” he said in broken Spanish after a shift hauling marble slabs.
Ramiro Rodríguez Alaez, co-owner of GraMaLeon, underscored the significance of migrant labor. “We need a lot of manpower, but it’s tough work that many locals don’t want to do,” he explained. “We’re all looking for workers, but there aren’t many available.” His sentiment echoes a broader reliance on immigrants as a critical resource for businesses in the region.
