Demographic and migratory changes in the Catalan Pyrenees. Labour and social analysis about foreign people

Abstract

Since the late 20th century, a number of transformations in the rural areas of Catalonia, and specifically in mountain areas, have occurred. Population grows, especially due to the influx of immigration, notably of foreigners. In this paper we study the integration of foreign immigrants in the labour market of the Catalan Pyrenees. Historically, this area has been characterized by a predominance of agriculture but tourism activities have become the main economic sector area and have led to the revitalization of all the services and the construction. The study has arisen from the theoretical proposal of the segmented labour market. This article discusses some of the results of the fieldwork, based mainly on interviews with qualified informants and foreign immigrants, and shows the complementary role migration has on the labour market and the uncertain perspectives that arise in a situation of economical crisis.