Data study ·
One in four large Spanish companies plans to cut jobs because of artificial intelligence
Original title, in Spanish: “Una de cada cuatro grandes empresas españolas prevé recortar empleo por la inteligencia artificial”
- Publication
- Demócrata (Spain)
- Author
- Unsigned
- Published on
- 31 October 2026 · read in the page metadata
Summary
According to a Banco de España survey (EBAE), 24% of large Spanish companies using AI plan to reduce headcount over the next three years, compared with 18% that expect an increase. The impact is considered still limited: 89% of adopting companies have seen no significant change in employment. Routine roles are the most exposed, while management roles are less so. Meanwhile, 61% of large companies expect AI to raise productivity, compared with 27% of SMEs. In early 2026, 70% of large Spanish companies were using AI, compared with 30-35% of SMEs. Eurostat 2025 data put Spain at 20% overall adoption, in line with the euro area, with similar rates among large Spanish, German and French companies (57-58%). Employee training and the shortage of qualified profiles are cited as major challenges.
Summary based on the full text of the article.
Read the article on Demócrata →Figures cited
-
24 %
share of large Spanish companies planning to reduce employment because of AI
large Spanish companies using AI, 3-year horizon, EBAE early 2026
« el 24% de las grandes empresas que utilizan inteligencia artificial prevé reducir empleo durante los próximos tres años, frente al 18% que espera incrementar sus plantillas »
Source: Encuesta del Banco de España sobre la Actividad Empresarial (EBAE)
-
18 %
share of large companies planning to increase employment thanks to AI
large Spanish companies using AI, 3-year horizon
« frente al 18% que espera incrementar sus plantillas »
Source: EBAE
-
89 %
share of companies that have seen no significant change in employment since adopting AI
Spanish companies that have adopted AI, last 3 years
« cerca del 89% de las empresas que han incorporado inteligencia artificial asegura que no ha observado cambios significativos en el empleo durante los últimos tres años »
Source: EBAE
-
6 %
share of companies reporting an increase or a reduction in plantilla (workforce)
Spanish companies that have adopted AI
« Los porcentajes de compañías que declaran aumentos o reducciones de plantilla son similares, alrededor del 6% en ambos casos »
Source: EBAE
-
44 %
share of large companies expecting job reductions in routine roles
large Spanish companies
« El 44% de las grandes empresas anticipa reducciones de empleo en este tipo de puestos »
Source: EBAE
-
83 %
share of SMEs expecting no change in employment in routine roles
Spanish SMEs
« mientras que el 83% de las pymes no espera modificaciones en esta categoría profesional »
Source: EBAE
-
20 %
share of large companies planning to increase employment in analytical roles
large Spanish companies
« Cerca del 20% de las grandes compañías prevé aumentar el empleo en estas ocupaciones, aunque un 15% también contempla reducciones »
Source: EBAE
-
15 %
share of large companies planning to reduce employment in analytical roles
large Spanish companies
« aunque un 15% también contempla reducciones »
Source: EBAE
-
8 %
share of SMEs expecting an increase in employment
Spanish SMEs
« Los porcentajes de empresas que anticipan aumentos y reducciones de trabajadores se encuentran equilibrados, alrededor del 8% y el 9%, respectivamente »
Source: EBAE
-
9 %
share of SMEs expecting a reduction in employment
Spanish SMEs
« alrededor del 8% y el 9%, respectivamente »
Source: EBAE
-
61 %
share of large companies expecting AI to increase their productivity
large Spanish companies using AI, 3-year horizon
« El 61% de las grandes empresas que utilizan estas tecnologías espera incrementar su productividad en los próximos tres años »
Source: EBAE
-
27 %
share of SMEs expecting AI to increase their productivity
Spanish SMEs using AI, 3-year horizon
« una proporción que desciende hasta el 27% entre las pymes »
Source: EBAE
-
25 %
share of companies that have already seen improvements in productivity and investment
Spanish companies using AI
« Más de una cuarta parte de las compañías que utilizan inteligencia artificial asegura haber observado mejoras tanto en productividad como en inversión »
Source: EBAE
-
3 %
share of companies reporting a decline in productivity or investment
Spanish companies using AI
« mientras que únicamente alrededor del 3% comunica descensos en estas variables »
Source: EBAE
-
40 %
share of moderate generative AI users reporting a productivity improvement
Spanish companies, moderate use of generative AI
« Entre las empresas que hacen un uso moderado de la inteligencia artificial generativa, cerca del 40% afirma haber mejorado su productividad »
Source: EBAE
-
14 %
share of sporadic generative AI users reporting a productivity improvement
Spanish companies, sporadic use of generative AI
« frente al 14% de aquellas que recurren a estas herramientas de manera esporádica »
Source: EBAE
-
70 %
share of large Spanish companies using AI in early 2026
large Spanish companies, early 2026
« alrededor del 70% de las grandes empresas utilizaba estas tecnologías a comienzos de 2026 »
Source: EBAE
-
32.5 %
share of Spanish SMEs using AI in early 2026
Spanish SMEs, early 2026, range of 30-35% depending on the tool
« mientras que entre las pequeñas y medianas la proporción se encontraba entre el 30% y el 35%, dependiendo del tipo de herramienta »
Source: EBAE
-
20 %
share of Spanish companies with 10 or more employees using an AI technology
Spain, companies with 10+ employees, 2025
« los datos de Eurostat correspondientes a 2025 reflejan que el 20% de las empresas españolas con diez o más trabajadores utilizaba alguna tecnología de inteligencia artificial, frente al 21% de la eurozona »
Source: Eurostat
-
21 %
share of euro area companies with 10 or more employees using an AI technology
euro area, companies with 10+ employees, 2025
« frente al 21% de la eurozona »
Source: Eurostat
-
57.5 %
AI adoption rate among companies with 250 or more employees in Spain, Germany and France
Spain, Germany, France, companies with 250+ employees, range of 57-58%
« Entre las compañías de 250 o más empleados, sin embargo, las tasas de adopción eran prácticamente idénticas en España, Alemania y Francia, alrededor del 57% y el 58% »
Source: Eurostat
-
79 %
share of large companies planning to strengthen employee training
large Spanish companies, 3-year horizon
« El 79% de las grandes empresas prevé reforzar la formación de sus trabajadores durante los próximos tres años »
Source: EBAE
-
62 %
share of large companies planning to hire specialised staff
large Spanish companies, 3-year horizon
« mientras que el 62% contempla contratar más personal especializado »
Source: EBAE
-
35 %
share of SMEs planning to strengthen training
Spanish SMEs, 3-year horizon
« Entre las pymes, estos porcentajes descienden al 35% y al 17%, respectivamente »
Source: EBAE
-
17 %
share of SMEs planning to hire specialised staff
Spanish SMEs, 3-year horizon
« al 35% y al 17%, respectivamente »
Source: EBAE
-
57 %
share of large companies planning to change the allocation of tasks
large Spanish companies, 3-year horizon
« el 57% de las grandes compañías espera modificar la distribución de tareas dentro de la organización, frente al 21% de las pequeñas y medianas empresas »
Source: EBAE
-
21 %
share of SMEs planning to change the allocation of tasks
Spanish SMEs, 3-year horizon
« frente al 21% de las pequeñas y medianas empresas »
Source: EBAE
-
50 %
share of companies citing a lack of qualified professionals as the main obstacle to AI adoption
Spanish companies surveyed
« La falta de profesionales cualificados continúa siendo el principal obstáculo para incorporar estas tecnologías, mencionado por cerca de la mitad de las empresas encuestadas »
Source: EBAE
Classification
- Country
- Spain, Germany, France
- Company size
- SMEs, Large companies
- Industries
- All industries, or industry not specified
- Companies
- Banco de España (study author), Eurostat (study author)
- Keywords
- employment, productivity, large companies, smes, employee training, ai adoption
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.