Approach and productivity: Keys to sustainable economic growth in Spain

Announcements

Productivity and economic growth in Spain: current situation

Productivity is key to GDP growth and competitiveness in Spain, it influences the standard of living and income of citizens.

Spain faces structural challenges due to its low technological intensity, affecting the evolution of its labor productivity compared to the European average.

Announcements

The OECD identifies productivity as an engine of growth, although its progress is less than in other countries, with recent stagnation.

Importance of productivity for GDP and competitiveness

Improving productivity boosts GDP per capita and improves international competitive position, being essential for sustainable development.

Announcements

Efficiency in the use of productive resources allows us to produce more with less, which strengthens the economy and generates well-being.

Recent growth data and productivity evolution

In 2025, total factor productivity grew by 0.8%, showing a slowdown compared to previous years and previous quarters.

Productivity per hour worked increased 0.7% in 2025, with modest cumulative growth and progress more based on employment than efficiency.

Limitations and challenges to improve productive efficiency

Barriers include low technological adoption, small business size, imbalances in labor skills and regional fragmentation.

Overcoming these challenges requires digitalization, business professionalization, adapted training and regulatory reforms that boost productivity.

Artificial intelligence as a driver of labor productivity

Artificial intelligence is transforming work by automating repetitive tasks and optimizing complex processes, freeing up human resources.

In Spain, AI already automates nearly 25% of tasks in more than 700 professions, increasing efficiency and reducing errors.

This technology unleashes human potential by allowing workers to focus on activities with greater added value and creativity.

Automation and optimization of repetitive tasks

AI automates routine processes such as data entry, document management and customer service, improving times and results.

It also optimizes workflows through real-time analytics and predictive maintenance, increasing productivity and reducing costs.

Quantitative benefits of AI in productivity

AI can reduce time spent on repetitive tasks by up to 30% and more than double business productivity.

Additionally, companies adopting AI experience significant revenue improvements, operational efficiency, and error reduction.

Increases in efficiency, reduction of errors and acceleration of processes

Thanks to automation and the analysis of large volumes of data, AI accelerates processes and reduces human errors.

This improves decision making and optimizes response capacity, generating cost savings and higher quality of services.

Impact on collaboration and creativity within teams

AI facilitates communication and coordination in teams, freeing up time for innovative activities and improving knowledge management.

It also promotes remote synergy and collaboration between humans and AI agents, enhancing collective creativity and effectiveness.

Structural challenges and limitations of Spanish productive potential

Spain faces structural challenges such as low productivity, high debt and business fragmentation that limit its economic potential.

Insufficient innovation, limited technological investment and a dual labor market affect the ability to grow sustainably.

Overcoming these obstacles requires profound reforms in fiscal, business and labor areas to improve competitiveness and growth.

Low productivity and business fragmentation

Productivity in Spain is low compared to Europe, especially in microenterprises with little capacity to innovate and digitalize.

This business fragmentation limits productive investments and makes it difficult to generally improve national economic performance.

Problems in the labor market and access to financing for SMEs

The labor market shows imbalances with unfilled vacancies and high overqualification, while the difficulty in filling key positions grows.

SMEs face barriers to financing their growth due to strict requirements and high costs, slowing their expansion and modernization.

Bureaucracy, complex regulation and perception of corruption

Spanish bureaucracy involves up to 53 days a year in procedures, generating high costs and slowing down business opening and operation.

Excessive regulation discourages investment, affects competitiveness and fuels a negative perception of corruption in the public sector.

Recommendations for a strategy focused on productivity

Integrating artificial intelligence and automation into everyday processes frees up resources and increases operational efficiency.

Promoting continuous training in digital skills is essential to maximize the use of new technologies at work.

Creating a company culture that values innovation and the ethical use of AI contributes to responsible and sustainable adoption.

Strategic integration of AI and automation in daily work

Identifying repetitive tasks susceptible to automation significantly improves productivity and allows efforts to be focused on higher value activities.

The implementation of intelligent agents and machine learning helps decision making and optimizes predictive maintenance in key sectors.

Structural reforms to improve quality and stability of employment

Reducing the working day to 37.5 hours per week without lowering salaries promotes better work-life balance and greater work well-being.

Strengthening labor rights, limiting abusive temporary employment and modernizing digital time registration are key to the stability and quality of employment.