Spain adds 92,327 social security affiliates in September led by migrant regularizations

Surge in social security registrations

Spain registered an increase of 92,327 contributors to its Social Security system in September 2026, lifting total average affiliation to 22,437,553. The monthly gain exceeded the 31,462 affiliates added in September 2025. Foreign workers accounted for 84,220 of the new contributors, representing 91.2% of the net monthly rise, while Spanish nationals accounted for 8,107. On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment increased by 108,832 workers to reach 22,480,796, extending a sequence of monthly gains to 68 consecutive months. Daily registration figures also climbed, reaching a peak of 22,576,593 contributors on 28 September.

Breakdown of the regularization program

The expansion in foreign employment stems largely from the extraordinary regularization process initiated in April 2026, for which application windows closed in July. By 30 September, a cumulative total of 421,306 workers had joined Social Security through the regularization procedure, reflecting an increase of 83,389 compared to the end of August. Colombian nationals form the largest group among the regularized workforce with 118,485 affiliates, followed by Venezuelan nationals with 71,999. In terms of employment regimes, 77.4% (326,256 individuals) enrolled in the general system, while 5.4% (22,681 individuals) registered as self-employed. Men represented 60.2% (253,490) of the regularized total, and women accounted for 39.8% (167,815).

Divergence between employment and registered unemployment

While affiliation expanded, registered unemployment climbed by 23,587 individuals (1.0%) in September to 2,379,505, marking the largest September increase in jobless claimants since 2021. Ministry data showed that foreign unemployment grew by 26,000 people over the month, and more than 56,000 of the total unemployed had registered with the State Public Employment Service (SEPE) after obtaining regularization status. Youth unemployment among those under 25 years old rose by 12.77%, or 21,411 people. By economic sector, unemployment increased by 6,707 in services, 601 in agriculture, and 39 in industry, while it declined by 1,726 in construction. The group classified as without prior employment grew by 17,966 applicants.

Annual trends and policy responses

Over the preceding twelve months, Spain added 739,888 affiliates (a 3.41% year-on-year increase), while total unemployment fell by 42,160. Total foreign affiliations reached 3,635,979, representing 16.2% of the total workforce. Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz pointed to the sustained figures across the second half of the month as an indicator of labor market stability.

Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Work Yolanda Díaz framed the entry of regularized workers into official statistics as a positive transition for the formal economy.

Generating rights improves the economy and is good for businesses as well.

In the broader labor market, the education sector provided the primary seasonal boost to employment following the start of the school term. Total contracts signed in September reached 1,597,612, an increase of 63,839 (4.16%) compared to September 2025, with more than 15 million workers now holding permanent contracts across Spain.