AI erodes junior digital jobs

BarcelonaThe adoption of artificial intelligence in the Catalan technology sector is already causing havoc in the workforce, especially among the youngest. According to the latest report According to the foundation's digital talent director, Jordi Arrufí, there is a direct "correlation" between the adoption of AI and the cooling demand for junior profiles. "The typical tasks of these workers are the ones that are being most automated," he observed during the report's presentation. The document also details the use of these tools among a majority segment of the workforce in Barcelona: web and application programmers and developers.

, developed by the Mobile World Capital Barcelona Foundation, the offers for junior workers among ICT companies in Barcelona fell by almost 27% in 2025 "Redefine" jobs

Arrufí assures, in conversation with the ARA, that all industry players "are aware" of the problem posed by a gap in the junior segment of the workforce. "Companies and talent hunters in the sector warn that previously 10% of interns became employees, and now only 5% do," reports the executive. Barcelona's digital world executives "know that this is not sustainable in the long run" and are looking to universities and administrations to offer solutions that guarantee talent transfer. The MWCapital representative, however, calls for structural proposals that address the entire market. "Individual solutions don't work, because companies will seek short-term efficiency, and that doesn't fit with young people who will take time to become productive," he opines.

For Martí, the entire technological fabric will have to contribute to "redefining" technological jobs around AI. "In some cases, productivity does increase, and there may be a temptation to lay off staff," reflects the executive director. However, companies will have to specify exactly "what work" artificial intelligence does; whether it is of sufficient quality to guarantee a certain autonomy, or what kind of monitoring should be applied to its results. This new demand, however, will necessarily have to be met by well-trained workers.

In this regard, Arrufí enumerated several solutions during the presentation of the report, although none of them are yet fixed. Among them, he highlighted "recovering the figure of the apprentice" for digital jobs or directing specialized training offers towards the new demands that artificial intelligence brings to the table. "It is obvious to everyone that programmers will have to have different skills, and different training will need to be offered," reflected the expert. Be that as it may, in Martí's view, "if organizations are not capable of understanding that they will always be based on people, they will be left without an expert resource".