International residents established in Barcelona reaffirm that it is one of the best cities to live and work. They value cosmopolitanism, quality of life, connectivity, the educational system, safety, and cultural offerings, among other aspects. Furthermore, after the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, they highlight the public and private health systems and the acceleration of digitalization. These are the main conclusions of the fifth edition of the International Talent Monitor opinion survey, promoted annually by the entity Barcelona Global, in collaboration with Banco de Sabadell.
The survey conducted among a thousand professionals of almost 100 nationalities and more than a hundred companies and institutions has corroborated that foreigners positively value the health management of the pandemic and how, in response to the economic impact, digitalization has accelerated and remote work has been facilitated. This has opened new opportunities to choose Barcelona as a reference city in the world. Respondents assure that they would recommend it as a professional option for its technological level, the startup ecosystem, biotechnological advances, and research, to name a few aspects.
However, high taxation, bureaucracy and slowness of administrative processes, and the political context remain, in that order, some of the most prominent obstacles. Similarly, low salary levels, problems with access to housing, and the instability of the legal system are the main hesitations for choosing Barcelona.
Foreign professionals face problems such as high taxation, bureaucracy and slowness of administrative processes, and the political contextIn this regard, the president of Barcelona Global, Aurora Catà, urges administrations to opt for "intelligent" taxation that improves the city's competitiveness against other European capitals, but also against Madrid, and to promote the necessary measures to have a "more facilitating" administration, less bureaucratic and more multilingual. "The resolution of the most negative aspects is in the hands of the administrations," explains Catà and highlights that the complaints of international residents fall on wealth tax and the high rates of personal income tax (IRPF) and corporate tax.
"We have to change taxation and open a single window for administrative procedures to attract more talent," says Mateu Hernández, general director of Barcelona Global. Hernández explains that the tax issue is a sufficient reason to leave the city for 12% of respondents, when a year ago it was only for 7% of foreign residents.
Another persistent reason among residents' dissatisfactions is the political situation (mentioned by 17% of respondents). In this regard, Aurora Catà regrets the suspension of investment in the Barcelona-El Prat Airport, as she considers that "not betting on an international hub is losing opportunities when it comes to attracting the best," these are obstacles that "do not help us in the international race to make Barcelona an attractive city for talent, an essential commitment for the future," she adds.
In conclusion, Barcelona Global highlights the level of integration of the international community in the city that offers its cosmopolitanism and makes it one of the few cities where foreign residents do not live in ghettos and enjoy the city: "This is important to retain talent," says Hernández and reiterates that, one more year, 80% of respondents say they live with "great normality" that Catalan is the priority language.
Barcelona is one of the few cities where foreign residents do not live in ghettos and enjoy the cityBased on the conclusions of the survey, Barcelona Global will intensify its management of lobbyto demand tax improvements for international talent and companies, promote the digitalization of landing processes and online information, promote a metropolitan housing policy and boost the internationalization of higher education, encourage the learning of foreign languages such as English and launch a campaign to promote Barcelona as a destination for international talent.
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