AI adopters report productivity gains but little employment change

By early 2026, Spanish SME adoption had nearly doubled in two years, reaching around 30 percent for predictive AI and 35 percent for generative AI; large-firm adoption reached around 70 percent.

Most adopting SMEs still use AI experimentally or sporadically, while larger firms use it more intensively.

Around 6 percent of adopters report employment increases and a similar share report reductions.

More than one-quarter report higher productivity and investment, against around 3 percent reporting declines.

External-service spending rose for 21 percent and fell for 11 percent.

Productivity gains vary with intensity: close to 40 percent of moderate generative-AI users report improvements, versus 14 percent of occasional users.

Almost half cite skilled-staff shortages as a barrier.

Over the next three years, 61 percent of large firms anticipate productivity gains, versus 27 percent of SMEs.

Employment declines are anticipated by 24 percent of large firms and increases by 18 percent; SME shares are 8-9 percent each.

Routine-job cuts are anticipated by 44 percent of large firms; 83 percent of SMEs foresee no change.

Training increases are planned by 79 percent of large firms versus 35 percent of SMEs.

Specialized hiring figures are 62 and 17 percent, respectively; task reallocation figures are 57 and 21 percent.