It is expected that by 2030 there will be a 35% growth in digital skills

• Spain is among the 20 economies best prepared to face the job market transformation.
• Mismatch between business demand for skills and vocational training
• Academic training as a response to labor transformation

The labor market is undergoing constant digital transformation, which entails facing new challenges. One of the most important is the significant gap between companies’ demand for skills and professionals’ academic training, especially in fields such as artificial intelligence and sustainability. According to a QS report, digital skills are expected to grow by 35% by 2030, creating 24 million jobs related to green skills. 

Spain is among the 20 economies most prepared for the shift in the labor paradigm, ranking 12th, just behind South Korea. Its average score is 84 out of 100, according to QS, which evaluates factors such as the ability to adapt skills to current demand, academic preparation, future job prospects, and the degree of economic transformation.

Academic training to anticipate a skills mismatch

Despite global awareness of workforce needs, there is a potential for a decline in skills alignment over the next 10-15 years. In response to this situation, some institutions offer training focused on developing green, digital, and innovation skills, such as TBS Education-Barcelona. “Spain’s main weakness in closing the demand-supply gap is the lack of better connections between education and industry. Despite its strong position in the global ranking, its strong academic training has not yet been fully exploited,” says Jaime García-Rebollo, Head of Admissions and Development at TBS Education-Barcelona business school.

Alignment between employees and the needs of managers 

To achieve a successful long-term adaptation to new technologies, active teaching that promotes:

• Troubleshooting
• Flexibility, resilience, agility, creativity, and confidence
• Analytical and innovative skills
• Leadership and social influence

As García-Rebollo points out, “Not only are educational centers the only ones that can promote good training, but companies themselves can also offer courses for their employees.” Some have already begun to incorporate the so-called “upskilling,” which aims to teach them new skills to improve their productivity.

Spain has a variety of educational centers prepared to train new professionals with the knowledge, values, and attitudes necessary to foster a sustainable and digital economy. If Spain invests adequately in innovation, training, and opportunities, the country can adapt to the labor market and meet its needs.