Spain is the second largest footwear producer in the European Union after Italy, and shoes labeled "Made in Spain" are renowned both domestically and internationally. However, due to structural changes in the Spanish footwear industry in the early 21st century, many Spanish footwear brands relocated production to Asian countries, leading to numerous business closures and mass unemployment. It was not until after the 2008 financial crisis that confidence and innovation in the Spanish footwear industry began to gradually recover. Investors looking to immigrate to Spain have great confidence in the development of the Spanish footwear industry.
Recently, the footwear industry in the Elche region of Alicante, Spain, has grown by as much as 20%. Elche and Petrer are important concentrated areas for footwear production in Spain, and for a long time, the footwear industry has been a significant pillar of the Spanish economy.
In terms of employment, the number of employees in the Elche footwear industry dropped to a historical low of only 5,300 in 2009. By 2015, the number of employees increased to 9,000. Additionally, the footwear industry has created more job opportunities in related sectors, such as chemicals and transportation.