28/04/2013 00:00
TW
0
STAFF REPORTER THE net influx of migrants in the Balearics (the difference between foreigners entering and leaving the region) dropped by nearly 40 percent last year in comparison with figures for 2007.

The National Institute of Statistics (INE) reported yesterday that net immigrant movement in 2007 - the year which had witnessed the greatest influx of foreigners in the region's recent history - had been 27'454, whilst it plummeted to 17'157 last year; that is to say there were 10'297 less foreigners in the Balearic Islands by the end of 2008.

Pere Salva, professor in Human Geography at the Balearic University, explained that “the recession in the construction industry and the uncertainty about the success of the current tourist season has meant that people from overseas have less incentive to come here if they are looking for work.” He indicated that immigration in the Balearics is no longer based on people coming in search of work but rather foreigners looking for a new place to live - particularly amongst the German and British community.

Salva pointed out that the immigrant population is always more vulnerable during times of economic crisis and that many end up working on the “black market”. He also warned that recessions can spark tensions between new and established immigrant communities when they have to compete for jobs.

CONSTRUCTION BOOM
Salva was confident that an immigrant workforce will continue to be “necessary” for the Balearics but explained that at a time of economic recession, the foreign population that is already here “appears either sufficient or even too high.” He believed that the net immigration movement in the region should ideally waver between 15'000 and 20'000 people. The construction boom experienced in recent years, he said had pushed the figures “over the limit.” At a national level, the situation is very similar as the net immigration movement declined across all regions of the country last year in comparison with 2007. Looking at the different areas of the country, the net immigrant movement in the Basque Country was 17'209 in 2007 but plummeted to 962 last year, a decline of 94.41 percent - the most significant drop in Spain.

The Balearics with a downturn of 37.51 percent, is the region of the country where net immigration movement had fallen by the fifth highest numbers after the Basque Country (94.41%); Catalonia (-71.24%); Extremadura (-40.13%); and La Rioja (38.34%). In spite of the doom and gloom, immigrants are still coming to all regions of the country except the Spanish city of Melilla in North Africa where the net movement proved to be a negative figure in relation to 2007.