Spanish Emigration Trends: 1945 to Present
Spanish Emigration: Transoceanic and European Flows
Transoceanic Emigration
c) Between 1945 and 1960, transoceanic migration recovered but did not reach the figures of the previous century. The factors that allowed for this recovery were Spain’s authorization to leave the country freely (1946), the lifting of the UN’s international isolation (1950), and the change in the U.S. attitude regarding Franco’s regime (1951).
The migrant profile changed. Family migration gained more weight, and migrants had a higher level of qualification.
d) Since 1960, transoceanic migration has declined due to the beginning of the decline of the Latin American economy and competition with migration to Europe (second stage of the crisis).
Currently, the figures are very low and dominated by returns.
Emigration to Europe
Three distinct stages stand out:
a) Until the mid-twentieth century, migration was scarce and seasonal. The Second World War put an end to this phase.
b) The period between 1950 and 1973 was the peak of migration to Europe, with a single drop between 1964 and 1968 driven by the start of the first Spanish Development Plan, which increased the supply of jobs in Spain.
- On the European side, the rapid economic reconstruction after World War II favored a wide range of employment.
- On the Spanish side, emigration was stimulated by:
- Strong population growth
- Surplus agricultural population because of the mechanization of the field
- Failure of industrialization to absorb the increase in unemployment caused by the Stabilization Plan
- Disappearance of previous advantages of overseas migration
- High European wages
The origin of emigrants spread to all regions, although the most affected were Andalusia and Galicia. Their main destinations were France, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Switzerland.
The profile of these emigrants was young adults, poorly prepared. They took on the least-skilled and poorly paid jobs in mining, construction, industry, and domestic service.
Repeat Section: Transoceanic Emigration
c) Between 1945 and 1960, transoceanic migration recovered but did not reach the figures of the previous century. The factors that allowed for this recovery were Spain’s authorization to leave the country freely (1946), the lifting of the UN’s international isolation (1950), and the change in the U.S. attitude regarding Franco’s regime (1951).
The migrant profile changed. Family migration gained more weight, and migrants had a higher level of qualification.
d) Since 1960, transoceanic migration has declined due to the beginning of the decline of the Latin American economy and competition with migration to Europe (second stage of the crisis).
Currently, the figures are very low and dominated by returns.
Repeat Section: Emigration to Europe
Three distinct stages stand out:
a) Until the mid-twentieth century, migration was scarce and seasonal. The Second World War put an end to this phase.
b) The period between 1950 and 1973 was the peak of migration to Europe, with a single drop between 1964 and 1968 driven by the start of the first Spanish Development Plan, which increased the supply of jobs in Spain.
- On the European side, the rapid economic reconstruction after World War II favored a wide range of employment.
- On the Spanish side, emigration was stimulated by:
- Strong population growth
- Surplus agricultural population because of the mechanization of the field
- Failure of industrialization to absorb the increase in unemployment caused by the Stabilization Plan
- Disappearance of previous advantages of overseas migration
- High European wages
The origin of emigrants spread to all regions, although the most affected were Andalusia and Galicia. Their main destinations were France, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Switzerland.
The profile of these emigrants was young adults, poorly prepared. They took on the least-skilled and poorly paid jobs in mining, construction, industry, and domestic service.