Data study ·
Banco de España: AI adoption by SMEs has doubled since 2024
Original title, in Spanish: “Banco de España: la IA en pymes se duplica desde 2024”
- Publication
- Demócrata (Spain)
- Author
- Unsigned
- Published on
- 28 October 2026 · read in the page metadata
Summary
Banco de España indicates that AI use in Spanish SMEs has doubled since 2024, reaching 30 to 35% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with around 70% for large companies, a gap that has not narrowed in two years. The analysis, based on the EBAE and the Central de Balances Integrada, shows that companies adopting AI have higher productivity and wages. The information and communications industry reaches 60% adoption, while agriculture and construction are rising to 30%. The impact on employment remains limited for 89% of companies. The shortage of qualified staff is the main obstacle for around half of companies, and lack of resources for 61% of non-adopters. Large companies anticipate greater productivity gains, training and specialised hiring than SMEs.
Summary based on the full text of the article.
Read the article on Demócrata →Figures cited
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32.5 %
AI adoption rate among Spanish SMEs in Q1 2026
Spanish SMEs, Q1 2026, Banco de España EBAE/CBI survey
« hasta situarse en una horquilla de entre el 30% y el 35% en el primer trimestre de 2026 »
Source: Banco de España (EBAE, Central de Balances Integrada)
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70 %
AI adoption rate among large Spanish companies
Large Spanish companies
« la implantación de estas herramientas ronda ya el 70% »
Source: Banco de España
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60 %
Rate of use of predictive or generative tools in the information and communications industry
Information and communications industry, Spain
« con un 60% de las empresas empleando herramientas predictivas o generativas, frente al 40% que se contabilizaba en 2024 »
Source: Banco de España
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40 %
Rate of use of predictive or generative tools in this industry in 2024
Information and communications industry, Spain, 2024
« con un 60% de las empresas empleando herramientas predictivas o generativas, frente al 40% que se contabilizaba en 2024 »
Source: Banco de España
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30 %
AI penetration rate in agriculture and construction
Agriculture and construction industries, Spain
« han acelerado la adopción de la IA hasta acercarse al 30% de penetración, lo que implica casi 20 puntos porcentuales más que hace dos años »
Source: Banco de España
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89 %
Share of companies with no significant AI-related change in headcount over 3 years
Spanish companies, past three years
« cerca del 89% de las empresas no ha observado cambios significativos en el tamaño de sus plantillas »
Source: Banco de España
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13 %
Share of intensive generative AI users that increased headcount
Intensive generative AI users, Spain
« un 13% declara haber aumentado su número de empleados »
Source: Banco de España
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10 %
Share of intensive generative AI users that reduced headcount
Intensive generative AI users, Spain
« mientras que un 10% reconoce haberlo reducido »
Source: Banco de España
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25 %
Share of companies reporting productivity and investment gains after adopting AI
Spanish companies surveyed
« más de una cuarta parte de las firmas consultadas afirma haber logrado incrementos en la productividad y en los niveles de inversión »
Source: Banco de España
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60 %
Share of intensive generative AI users reporting productivity and investment gains
Intensive generative AI users, Spain, over three years
« más del 60% asegura haber registrado mejoras en productividad e inversión a lo largo del periodo de tres años analizado »
Source: Banco de España
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50 %
Share of companies citing shortage of qualified staff as the main obstacle
Spanish companies
« se sitúa como el principal obstáculo para aproximadamente la mitad de las empresas »
Source: Banco de España
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55 %
Share citing shortage of qualified staff in manufacturing, energy, transport and agriculture
Manufacturing, energy, transport and agriculture industries, Spain
« porcentaje que supera el 55% en sectores como la industria, la energía, el transporte y la agricultura »
Source: Banco de España
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70 %
Share of the business base that has not yet adopted AI
Spanish companies
« que suponen alrededor del 70% del tejido empresarial »
Source: Banco de España
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61 %
Share of non-adopting companies citing lack of resources as the main obstacle
Spanish companies that have not adopted AI
« con un 61% de las respuestas »
Source: Banco de España
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61 %
Share of large companies expecting a positive effect of AI on productivity within 3 years
Large Spanish companies, 3-year outlook
« un 61% de las grandes empresas espera que la IA tenga un efecto positivo sobre la productividad, frente al 27% de las pymes »
Source: Banco de España
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27 %
Share of SMEs expecting a positive effect of AI on productivity within 3 years
Spanish SMEs, 3-year outlook
« un 61% de las grandes empresas espera que la IA tenga un efecto positivo sobre la productividad, frente al 27% de las pymes »
Source: Banco de España
-
79 %
Share of large companies planning to step up employee training
Large Spanish companies
« el 79% de las grandes organizaciones prevé reforzar la formación de sus plantillas »
Source: Banco de España
-
62 %
Share of large companies planning to hire more specialised profiles
Large Spanish companies
« un 62% contempla contratar perfiles con una mayor especialización »
Source: Banco de España
Classification
- Country
- Spain
- Company size
- SMEs, Large companies
- Industries
- All industries, or industry not specified · Software vendors, IT services companies, telecoms · Agriculture and food production · Construction, civil engineering, real estate · Industry and manufacturing · Energy, utilities, environment · Transport, logistics, supply chain
- Companies
- Banco de España (study author)
- Keywords
- ai adoption, smes, productivity, employment, training, banco de españa
Entry written by Marsanne Studio from the cited article, with the help of an AI model (claude-sonnet-5). The rights to the article and its illustrations belong to Demócrata. Entry translated from French by Claude Sonnet 5.5.