Migration Patterns: Causes, Types, and Impacts in Spain
Migration Patterns: Causes, Types, and Impacts
Migratory movements can be defined as a change of residence. They have different socio-economic causes such as food crises, unemployment, the desire for personal improvement, ideological reasons (political, religious, and ethnic), and short-term factors like war and natural disasters.
Movements according to space can be both internal and external:
- Internal: Transfer of people from rural to urban areas (rural exodus), from one rural area to another, from urban to rural areas, and between cities.
- External: Movement from one country to another.
- Intercontinental: Movement from one continent to another.
- South-North: A specific type of intercontinental migration.
Depending on the duration, migration can be:
- Permanent
- Temporary (including seasonal and multi-annual)
- Return
Depending on the nature of the movement, it can be:
- Voluntary
- Compulsory (deportees and refugees)
According to the unit, an immigrant can move:
- Individually
- As a family (family reunification)
- Collectively
Legally, migration can be:
- Legal (controlled, with quotas)
- Illegal (clandestine, such as stowaways, boat people, and those crossing the US-Mexico border illegally)
Spanish Immigration in the 19th and 20th Centuries (1850-1940)
During this period, Spain experienced both external and internal migrations.
External Migration
- America: 1.5 million people (1886-1910) from Galicia, Asturias, and Catalonia moved to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Cuba, and Venezuela.
- North Africa: People from Alicante, Almeria, and Valencia moved to Morocco and Algeria.
- Europe: Migration to Europe was negligible.
Internal Migration
- Rural-Rural: Laborers moved seasonally.
- Rural Exodus: People moved to areas with machining and construction jobs, primarily to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and the Basque Country.
Immigration slowed due to the economic crisis of 1929 and the Spanish Civil War. The war’s end in April 1939 caused a large number of Republican political exiles (1939) to flee to France and Mexico.
The Great Migration Stage in Europe (1960-1975)
This period saw significant industrialization after World War II.
External Migration
Foreign Institutes regulated emigration to Europe. Unskilled laborers from Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla, and Galicia moved to France, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, and Belgium.
Internal Migration
Rural exodus continued, with people moving to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Basque Country for jobs in industry and construction, and to metropolitan areas and the Mediterranean coast for tourism and construction.
Status from 1976 Onward
External Migration
A moderate movement occurred, with returns from Europe and increasing emigration from 1985 onward, particularly of skilled workers and students, following Spain’s entry into the EU.
Internal Migration
Emigration to Madrid and Barcelona slowed, while immigration to medium-sized cities and provincial capitals increased.
Recent Immigration to Spain
Causes of recent immigration include Spain’s economic level, its role as a gateway to the EU, geographical factors (proximity to Africa and Latin America), cultural ties (with Latin America and Morocco), and the climate (attractive to Europeans).
Immigrants primarily come from Morocco, Latin America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina), Romania, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia.
Their destination within Spain includes Madrid, Barcelona, the Mediterranean Coast, the archipelagos, and areas with intensive agriculture.
Characteristics of Immigrants
- Age: Predominantly young adults (1st age group: 12%, 2nd age group: 69%, 3rd age group: 3.91%).
- Sex: Roughly equal numbers of men and women.
- Studies: Many have at least a bachelor’s degree.
- Occupations: They tend to work in domestic service, agriculture, construction, and hospitality.
Consequences of Immigration for Spain
- Negative: Need for more infrastructure, potential for lower wages, and challenges with integration.
- Positive: Population growth, rejuvenation of the population, increased economic benefits, increased birth rates, and cultural enrichment.