Okay, like, Europe is totally having a moment right now, and not in a cute way. So, get this—there’s this whole aging population crisis happening, and like, if they don’t do something about it, the continent’s population could drop by, like, a third by 2100. That’s, like, a major yikes! And with fewer young people, you know what that means? Slower economic growth, way higher taxes, and, like, soooo much spending on pensions.
But Spain? It’s like, totally doing its own thing, and honestly, we love that for them. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was, like, “Let’s actually fix this,” and went full send on pro-immigration policies. And guess what? It’s working! Spain’s economy grew by, like, 3.2% last year (um, slay?), totally outpacing other big European countries. Also, unemployment is at its lowest since, like, 2008, and that’s because migrants are stepping in to fill job gaps, especially in the service industry.
And like, not only that, but Spain is also giving out one-year residency and work permits to, like, 25,000 immigrants who were affected by natural disasters. Um, that’s, like, actually so considerate and smart? Because, hello, immigrants contribute so much to the economy!
Now, let’s talk about the other big European countries. Italy, Germany, and France? They’re kinda in their anti-immigration era, and honestly, it’s not looking good for them. Like, they’re facing serious population declines and an aging workforce, which means their economies are gonna feel the struggle bus real soon. Experts are literally saying they need to up their immigration game, fix employment policies, and rethink pensions if they don’t wanna be in trouble.
And girl, let’s talk about the drama. Even though the number of migrants coming to Europe actually dropped last year (we’re talking, like, 190,000 in 2024 compared to nearly 300,000 the year before), politicians are still freaking out about it. Like, the anti-immigration vibes are getting stronger even though the numbers are literally going down? Make it make sense!
But okay, back to Spain, because they’re, like, the main character in this story. Experts are saying that if Europe actually wants to, you know, not completely crash and burn, they need to take notes from Spain’s playbook. Like, immigration can actually be a huge economic win if countries actually integrate migrants into the workforce properly. Otherwise? Well, let’s just say Europe’s gonna be looking a little… outdated.
So yeah, that’s the sitch. Spain is thriving, other countries are kinda flopping, and Europe’s got some big choices to make. Let’s see if they get it together or if we’ll be talking about the “Great European Population Crisis” for, like, the next hundred years. Stay tuned!
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
