Problem, threat, costs, restrictions … The debate on immigration is immersed in a negative narrative. But the reality is clear: Spain needs immigration. The demography rules. Although birth increased today, at least 20 years would be needed for these new births to join the labor market. Immigrants are the generational and labor relief that can sustain growth. Why keep seeing them as a burden instead of how an opportunity? Let's start by distinguishing immigration, with their data, from humanitarian problems, with their images. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), with data from January 2025, 9.3 million people in Spain were born abroad, equivalent to 19.1% of the population. https://BitcoinDynamic.com/sociedad/2025-02-19/el-numero-de-nacimientos-crecio-en-2024-por-primera-vez-en-la-ultima-deca Da.html#: ~: text = ESO%20Significa%20que%20Espa%C3%B1a%20regist%C3%B3,110,000%20 Personas%20a%20Los%20nacimientos.de The last years, caused by the descent of births, as the demography, housing and wealth gaps, prepared by our Foundation,, beyond the number, who are immigrants who arrive in Spain? A very different profile than many imagine. The Third Quarter Bulletin of 2024, published by the Bank of Spain, entitled a characterization of migratory flows to Spain and other countries of the European Union collects very clarifying data. 50% of foreigners come from Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean, a figure that rises to 65% if community citizens are excluded, which facilitates their integration thanks to shared language and culture, something that countries such as Germany or Italy do not have. The formative level is another revealing fact. 43%of newcomer immigrants have tertiary studies, a percentage higher than Germany (38%) and Italy (15%). However, many end up in jobs below their qualification, an aspect on which it would be appropriate to reflect with a view to assessing the potential to make a better use of this talent with a view to improving innovation and competitiveness. It is evident that the phenomenon of immigration is complex, with economic, social and cultural implications. It is not just about numbers, it is also about having a plan as a country and taking advantage of the potential of the phenomenon. In general, a person who leaves his country leaves behind what he knows with the expectation of a better life, and that, in itself, is a value in terms of acceptance of risk and interest in progressing. See immigration as an economic and business asset, and not only as a demographic need, it would be key. The challenge is not to avoid immigration, it is to manage the process well, ensuring its integration to make it an engine of innovation, development and progress .adriana Scozzafava is a general director of the AFI Emilio Ontiveros Foundation.
