AI is already changing the labor market in Spain, according to the results of a study carried out by IDC for Deel. It confirms that 93% of Spanish companies claim that their jobs have already been affected by AIand 22% have carried out a significant restructuring of their workforce to adapt.
62% of companies have reduced or stopped the hiring of junior professionals, which makes Spain, along with Canada with 55%, one of the countries most affected at the labor level by the expansion of the adoption of AI. They are followed by Argentina with 54% of companies affected, and Colombia with 52%.
Automation is not only reducing the hiring of junior personnel, but is also raising quality and efficiency standards in selection processes, and 71% of Spanish companies claim that using AI in talent management has generally improved the quality of hiring.
The report, based on a survey of 5,500 business leaders in 22 markets, points out how organizations can address this transformation and balance automation with human development.
On the other hand, the study indicates that Spanish companies are moving away from traditional academic requirements, and only 5% consider a university degree essential for entry-level positions. Instead, technical certifications in AI or bootcamps (75%), critical thinking and problem-solving skills (63%), and communication and collaboration skills (55%) are more valued.
74% of managers recognize that it is now more complicated to train future managers, due to reduced opportunities to access the labor market. 72% also report a reduction in learning opportunities in the workplace. In the medium term, this situation could make it difficult to create new generations of leadership if companies do not reinforce their training, retraining and continuous learning strategies.
The sectors most affected by the drop in entry-level hiring are media (72%), retail (69%), healthcare (64%), professional services (62%) and logistics (58%).
63% of Spanish companies are already investing in training and retraining programs focused on AI to prepare their teams for the future. However, they face various barriers to progress in this direction. Thus, 66% indicate that the main obstacle they encounter is low employee participation. In addition, 51% have budget limitations, and 37% find difficulties when detecting which skills they need to strengthen.
Meanwhile, only 23% of Spanish organizations have formal internal policies regulating the use of AI, leaving many exposed to ethical and regulatory compliance risks. And from Deel they point out that the companies that will be successful will be those that manage to balance automation with human development.
So, Nick Catino, Global Head of Policy en Deelpoints out that «the AI is no longer an emerging technology: it is fully integrated. ANDIt is transforming the way we work and how companies operate. Entry-level jobs are changing, and the skills companies are looking for are changing, too. Both workers and companies must adapt quickly. “It’s not just about being competitive, but about remaining viable.”
