Spanish firms embrace AI, face skills and strategy gaps: Adecco survey
MADRID, SPAIN — More than half of Spanish business leaders (55%) say artificial intelligence has improved decision-making within their management teams, according to a new survey by the Adecco Group, one of the world’s largest staffing firms.
The research, which polled 2,000 C-suite leaders across 13 countries—including 150 in Spain—highlights AI’s growing influence on how organizations operate and strategize.
Skills gap and strategy alignment remain challenges
Despite optimism about AI’s benefits, 59% of Spanish executives report difficulties in reaching timely agreement on business strategies, a figure that places Spain among the most uncoordinated countries surveyed.
The skills gap is another pressing concern: nearly half (49%) of respondents identify a lack of AI expertise as the biggest obstacle to their company’s digital transformation in 2025.
Alberto Gavilán, talent director at the Adecco Group, noted, “The emergence of artificial intelligence is accelerating the transformation of working environments, forcing companies to rethink their talent strategy.”
He added, “AI will not replace people but will consolidate itself as a key ally to enhance human capacities and adapt equipment to a new, more digital, agile and efficient working model.”
Training efforts outpace policy development
While 66% of Spanish business leaders believe employees should update their skills and responsibilities to adapt to AI’s impact, only 67% of organizations currently offer AI training programs.
However, 37% of companies still lack a clear policy on AI use, which could limit the technology’s positive effects in the workplace.
Investment in data-driven workforce planning also remains limited: just 27% of Spanish businesses dedicate resources to data analysis for skills development, though 70% have implemented technological solutions to improve workforce planning.
People at the center of AI transformation
The Adecco Group’s report urges companies to “place people at the [center] of the strategy” for AI-driven transformation to have a real impact. This means bridging the gap between talent and technology, establishing clear policies, and investing in leadership development.
As Gavilán emphasized, “The key lies in changing the mindset, not only adapting to AI but also reconsidering how work is organized and how talent is developed in this new era.”
