Eurofirms Group led a national study titled The labor market of the new digital economy. Keys to attracting and managing digital talent. It analyzes current trends and the evolution of technological capability in Spain. The report, based on 1,200 surveys and supplemented by expert interviews and industry testimonies, confirms the growing influence of digital media in business. A large majority of respondents—83.3 percent—report having some kind of professional experience in the new digital economy or technology sector.
The study also examines the impact of the digital economy on Spain’s GDP, noting a contribution of 22 percent in 2021, with government projections suggesting a rise to 40 percent by the end of 2025. It investigates the main motivations, valued aspects, and future expectations of professionals with varying levels of industry experience. The findings offer a benchmark for shaping strategies to attract and retain the talent needed to meet current and future challenges with confidence.
IT talent is young and experiences high workforce turnover
When looking at work history in IT profiles, only 32.4 percent of respondents have more than ten years in the sector, 45 percent have five years or less, and 22.4 percent have less than three years. On average, about 64 percent have worked for two to seven technology-related employers, indicating a pronounced turnover among professionals in the field.
The data reveal that most professionals in the new digital economy belong to Generations Y and Z. Specifically, 81.75 percent fall between the ages of 18 and 44. These generations share tendencies shaped by lifelong digital exposure, with digital natives and early adopters driving workplace expectations. Loyalty remains a challenge, and work-life balance emerges as a key factor. In the study, 33.6 percent of respondents cited telecommunications as the most attractive aspect of the industry, closely followed by 33.2 percent who valued workforce flexibility, and 30.5 percent who highlighted salary growth. Raúl Sánchez, country leader of Eurofirms Group Spain, notes these dynamics as central to recruitment and retention.
This research also finds that 53.1 percent of respondents work in firms with a technological DNA, suggesting that roughly 40 percent do not specialize solely in technology. Sectors such as e-commerce, technology, telecommunications, commerce, services, media, and internet-related activities show the greatest presence of experienced candidates.
The challenge of technological education
Some 67.8 percent of professionals in the sector are employed as workers, with an unemployment rate among experienced workers at 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, 68.8 percent have higher education, including 15.1 percent with a doctorate or master’s degree and 53.7 percent holding a university degree.
The results indicate that only 33.1 percent have formal sector regulation or access through university education, 20.4 percent have come from related fields, and 16.4 percent are in the industry due to self-directed learning. Raúl Sánchez emphasizes that the traditional education system does not fully meet industry demands. He notes that self-taught developers in the United States account for about 70 percent of the workforce, while self-learning remains significant among Hispanic respondents in the study. Companies may respond with IT training programs, which currently involve around 8 percent of experienced professionals. Other nontraditional education paths, such as unregulated programs and bootcamps, contribute up to 8.7 percent.
Gender gap is critical
The new digital economy and technology sector face significant challenges in attracting female talent. About 60 percent of professionals agree that women’s participation is a critical or very important issue that must be addressed. Respondents point to several reasons for the underrepresentation of women: lingering stereotypes about women in technical or scientific fields (37.8 percent); a lack of female role models in the sector (32.4 percent); a company culture that favors men (28.6 percent); and environments where work-life reconciliation is difficult (26.1 percent).
The gender distribution in multinational technology firms shows men as the majority, while women are more represented in advisory roles. Specifically, 17 percent of managers are women, and 24 percent of professionals in other roles are women; women show notable presence in counseling at 17 percent versus 10 percent for men in that area.
Wage inflation driven by talent shortages
There is a general perception that wages are rising as firms compete for scarce digital talent. Forty-five percent of professionals agree that salaries are inflated, while seven percent believe this occurs only for certain positions, and twelve percent view the situation as normal for the industry.
The survey reveals salary ranges among experienced professionals: 32.3 percent earn between €20,000 and €30,000 annually, 19.8 percent between €30,000 and €40,000, and 21 percent earn over €40,000. Conversely, 24 percent report salaries below €20,000. In gender terms, women tend to earn less than men, with 29 percent earning under €20,000 compared to 24 percent of men. The gap remains evident among high earners, with 15.6 percent of women versus 25.6 percent of men in higher salary brackets.