Conca de Barberà reaches 9,000 social security members driven by foreign workforce

Employment in the region grew by 2.1% in early 2026, led by the service sector despite agricultural decline.

Generic image of an economic growth chart over an industrial and services background.
IA

Generic image of an economic growth chart over an industrial and services background.

The Conca de Barberà region started 2026 with 9,035 people registered with the Social Security, marking a 2.1% year-on-year increase in employment.

A key factor in this upward trend is the growth of the foreign workforce, which now accounts for 13.8% of the total affiliates. This group saw a 6.8% increase, far outpacing the 1.4% growth seen among Spanish nationals in the local labor market.
The service sector remains the primary employer with 5,760 affiliations, growing by 4.4%. In contrast, agriculture suffered a 5.6% drop, falling to 425 affiliates, while the industrial sector remained largely unchanged compared to the previous year.
Demographic data shows that female employment is rising faster than male employment, with a 3.1% increase. Additionally, while there is a notable 5.4% rise in workers under 30, the number of affiliates over 55 also continues to grow, highlighting an aging workforce trend.