Spain’s long-term care system is at a crossroads. On one side lies an unprecedented labour shortage driven by a rapidly ageing population. On the other hand, a government-backed regularisation programme could grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of migrants. Between these two realities stands a proposal from the Federación Empresarial de la Dependencia (FED): up to 160,000 formal job openings in elderly and dependent care.
The question is not whether Spain needs more carers. It does. The real debate is whether this initiative represents a sustainable solution or a hurried fix to a structural crisis.
Spain’s dependency care sector has been warning for years that it cannot keep pace with demographic change. More than 20 per cent of the population is now over 65, and life expectancy at that age continues to rise. A person turning 65 today can expect to live, on average, another 21 years. That is a triumph of modern society, but it also places enormous pressure on residential care homes, home assistance services, and healthcare professionals.
FED estimates that the sector is already short by around 160,000 workers. In some rural regions, services are stretched so thin that families struggle to secure residential or in-home support at all. Looking ahead to 2030, government projections suggest Spain may need between 261,000 and 639,000 additional care professionals. Roles most affected include geriatric specialists, nursing auxiliaries, nurses, and home help personnel. Demand for home-based care in particular is described as “exponential,” while staffing shortages are considered structural rather than temporary.
Against this backdrop, the Spanish government has approved an extraordinary regularisation programme for undocumented migrants who arrived before 31 December 2025, have lived continuously in Spain for at least five months, and have no criminal record. Eligible applicants will receive a one-year residence and work permit, with the possibility of transitioning to standard residency status afterwards. Authorities aim to process applications swiftly, with decisions expected within three months.
FED sees a direct alignment between this policy and the sector’s urgent needs. The association argues that up to 160,000 newly regularised migrants could move into formal care roles, replacing precarious or informal employment with stable contracts, social security contributions, and full labour rights.
The tension here is clear. On one side is the urgency of vacant positions that leave vulnerable people without services. On the other is the responsibility to maintain high standards in a field that directly affects the health and well-being of older adults.
FED itself acknowledges this dilemma. While promoting the employment potential, the association insists that regularisation alone does not equal professionalisation. It is calling for accelerated training programmes, competency accreditation, and faster recognition of foreign qualifications. Currently, recognition of overseas degrees can take two to three years, leaving qualified professionals underemployed. According to the federation, speeding up this process could allow as many as 50,000 trained workers to join the long-term care workforce almost immediately.
Spain’s dependency crisis is not a distant projection. It is already visible in staff shortages and service gaps. The regularisation programme offers a rare opportunity to address labour deficits while advancing integration. The decisive factor will be whether policymakers prioritise professional standards as strongly as they prioritise workforce numbers.