Forty years ago, on June 12, Spain formally anchored its future to the European Union. As the tremors of the 1979 energy crisis subsided and our new institutions dismantled decades of isolation, the European project was met with fierce optimism. For a generation born under a dictatorship but coming of age in freedom, integration unlocked unprecedented horizons, offering groundbreaking educational opportunities and pathways to global employment.
Today, it is our responsibility to deliver that same level of opportunity to a new generation. Spain boasts the most educated youth in its history, yet faces one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Europe. To unlock their potential, we must recognize that the engine of opportunity itself has changed. If political integration in Europe was the catalyst for the last generation, mastering the transition to an AI-powered economy is crucial for this generation.
Exactly how AI will impact our lives, jobs and economy is something we as a society can shape.
Our young people are entering a job market that is shifting. A new report shows that 22 percent of entry-level jobs in Spain already explicitly require AI skills — particularly in fields like digital marketing, logistics and finance. We cannot afford to let our most educated generation fall behind because they lack access to the tools defining the modern workplace.
AI will cause disruption, but it also presents immense opportunities.
Exactly how AI will impact our lives, jobs and economy is something we as a society can shape. Neither the benefits nor the risks are guaranteed.
Public discourse often treats AI as an existential threat to employment, yet history shows that technological revolutions reshape work rather than erase it. The 1950 United States census listed 271 occupations; only one, the elevator operator, has since disappeared due to automation.
AI shouldn’t just automate what we’ve always done—it should expand what we can do. Consider radiology: a decade ago, some experts predicted the occupation would be replaced by AI technology. Instead, demand for them has surged because they’ve used AI to handle rote tasks, freeing them up to focus on the human element of their jobs, like consulting with doctors and caring for their patients.
But, this future will not build itself. Widespread AI adoption could boost the EU’s GDP by up to €1.2 trillion over the next decade, but realizing this potential depends on putting AI to work. Right now, there is a gap between that promise of growth and our reality, as AI adoption across the EU remains uneven. While 55 percent of large enterprises in Europe are embracing AI, only 17 percent of small and medium-sized businesses are. Those who could benefit most from AI are using it the least.
This needs to change, because when small businesses adopt AI, the results are transformative. In Teruel, a province in eastern Spain, local olive growers supported by a Google.org grant are using AI to modernize their operations, improve sustainability and create entirely new economic opportunities for their rural community.
To replicate this success for every business, regardless of size or sector, we must pursue a bold national strategy rooted in three priorities
First, we must invest in research to manage the transition. There is much that remains unknown about how the economy will respond to AI, necessitating a regular, data-driven assessment of labor market shifts. We must collaborate with economists and industry experts to track where roles are changing and which skills are in demand. Our policies must be grounded in world-class analysis rather than fear-based speculation.
Widespread AI adoption could boost the EU’s GDP by up to €1.2 trillion over the next decade, but realizing this potential depends on putting AI to work.
Second, we must prioritize workforce preparedness to ensure no one is left behind. The talent gap is already here; nearly three-quarters of small businesses in Spain struggle to find qualified candidates with AI skills. Closing this chasm isn’t a challenge the government or the private sector can solve alone. It requires deep public-private partnerships to equip people with the right skills.
To help, Google has established AI Works for Spain, a series of commitments, research and training to give people the practical skills to benefit and grow, their career. The first efforts include the Google AI Professional Certificate — now available in Spanish — and our support for INCO & Chance to create a set of advanced AI curriculums and career coaching for final year students in Spain.
Crucially, we must ensure access so no one stays behind. In Seville, for example, Google.org is partnering with Programamos, a local initiative, to provide migrants with critical AI skills training, directly enhancing their employability and integration into the Spanish workforce.
Finally, the national strategy must cultivate a regulatory environment that treats innovation as a national asset rather than a risk to be contained. While mitigating AI’s potential harms is critical, a truly effective national strategy must give people and businesses the clarity and confidence to innovate. The EU’s upcoming Digital Omnibus is a key opportunity to get this right. It should simplify the rules and provide the legal clarity businesses need to invest with confidence, without adding new complexity or privacy and cybersecurity risks.
Forty years ago, Spain chose to anchor its destiny in Europe. It was a bet on openness, competition,and ambition. Today, we face a similar choice. Ultimately, economic leadership isn’t going to be defined by who builds AI, but who adopts it best. We owe it to the next generation to make the right one.
