Irregular employment amongst migrants in Spanish cities

Abstract

Abstract This article presents data on the employment situation of non‐European Union immigrants in Spain. This type of economic migration is heterogeneous by country of origin and level of education. Once in Spain, the majority of immigrants (most of them Moroccan) find work in domestic service (mainly women), hotel and restaurant services, the building industry and retail trade. Migrants in agriculture work in irregular situations and under worse labour conditions than all other migrants. All migrants experience difficulty in obtaining residence and labour permits. The net effect of legislation has been the construction of a category of illegal immigrants.