Involuntary self-employment in Spain (21.7% of self-employed people) exceeded the European average (16.9%) in 2017. This study indicates that involuntary self-employment is common among young people and people with a low educational level.

According to this study, in comparison with the year 2002, in 2010 there was an increase in the time that mothers, and even more so fathers, devoted to their children. Despite this, the gender gap persists.

What role must teachers play to combat early leaving from education and training of young people of foreign origin? This study shows that their support is key and that they must count on the necessary resources for guiding pupils.

Some 23.5% of pupils of immigrant origin leave school in the transition between compulsory and post-compulsory education. We analyse the differences by pupils' migration status and sex.

Is the gig economy threatening workers’ wellbeing? The rise in temporary and self-employment, favoured by the digital platforms, seems to be affecting quality of life.

Can football alter opinions on immigration? According to this study, among a club’s followers, when the team wins thanks to foreign players, immigration is perceived more positively. 

Using a series of basic indicators and synthetic indicators on social, demographic and economic issues, this section of the Social Observatory of “la Caixa” offers a view in figures of the social reality of Spain within the European and international context.

What is the country’s socioeconomic situation? The Social Observatory of “la Caixa” includes in this section a series of indicators that offer a current-day snapshot of the relationship between the economy and people, analysing aspects such as the composition of households or labour market access in comparison with the societies of peer countries.

Where is education heading? In this section the Social Observatory of “la Caixa” presents a series of indicators are presented that are key to understanding the situation of education in our society. The majority have been built using data from international databases such as the European Social Survey (ESS) or the PISA Report, among others.

Research is a potential driving force for promoting economic growth and social welfare. What is the relative effort in research that different countries make? What economic activities are related to that research? This set of indicators provides an introduction to the history of research and innovation in various countries.

How is our country positioned in cultural questions? Understanding culture in its broadest form, the indicators presented by the Social Observatory of “la Caixa” in this section allow us to interpret how culture is interrelated, within a European context, with today’s social and economic reality.