Today, generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used daily by more than 40% of people, making it one of the most rapidly adopted technologies by the general population.
This fact drives companies to increasingly seek highly qualified professionals in a very new and constantly evolving technology, which further exacerbates the shortage of skilled talent. As a result, training and specialization in skills related to generative AI are essential to meet the needs of the job market and the future ahead.
With this in mind, we present some of the most in-demand roles from companies in job postings published on specialized platforms like ticjob.es.
If we delve deeper into the types of profiles currently sought by the labor market around AI and generative AI, we should focus on their nature. The most prominent profiles in this technological field are related to data processing; secondly, those dedicated to development; and lastly, those focused on team management. Here’s more about each of them.
The Most Sought-After Data-Related Profiles
One of the advantages of AI is its ability to process and connect millions of disconnected data points. As a result, Data Scientist profiles with knowledge of LLM (Large Language Models) and KPI generation for generative AI are in high demand. In fact, according to our Employment Map, between October and December 2024, 1,325 job offers were published.
This interpretation and analysis drive the importance of other data processing models through Machine Learning for these projects. Hence, another highly sought-after skill for this professional profile is Natural Language Processing (NLP).
Other technologies used and necessary for data analysis, whether through generative AI or not, include visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, among others.
In terms of cross-functional skills for this profile, analytical capacity and a data-driven mindset are essential for professionals to perform their roles, understand, and extract relevant metrics with the support of AI.
Madrid and Barcelona are the two Spanish cities with the highest number of job offers for these roles, typically in hybrid work settings. It is common for these positions to be concentrated in the two largest cities, where major corporations that require large-scale data analysis are based.
Salaries for these profiles typically range between €35,000 and €48,000 gross per year.
The Most In-Demand Development Profiles
Development profiles are the most sought-after in the tech ecosystem. However, when referring to AI-related roles, job postings typically require knowledge of software architecture and cloud technologies.
It is worth noting that while R and Python have been the most widely used programming languages in generative AI development, job postings show Python is in significantly higher demand than R. According to our Employment Map, between September and December 2024, Python appeared as a required skill in 2,635 job listings.
Since AI relies heavily on vast amounts of data, languages like Scala are also highly sought after.
Additionally, the Apache Spark framework is essential for aiding developers and Data Scientists. PySpark is widely used and in demand for large-scale data processing. TensorFlow is another highly requested framework in job listings for this type of development.
As mentioned earlier, knowledge of cloud technologies is crucial for these profiles. Proficiency in Amazon Web Services (AWS) is particularly valued for generative AI roles. Based on our Employment Map, “cloud” appeared as a required skill in 7,170 job listings, with AWS specifically mentioned in around 1,760 vacancies.
Salaries for these roles vary greatly depending on experience and company conditions. However, a typical range for mid-level profiles is between €36,000 and €42,000 gross per year.
Regarding cross-functional skills, due to the international nature of many projects, fluency in English is highly important and often required in these job postings.
The Most In-Demand Management Profiles
For any technological advancement, management and leadership profiles are essential for the execution of new projects.
The emergence of new technologies like generative AI has driven changes in infrastructure, networks, and systems, making their adaptation and modernization crucial.
In this era of digital transformation, methodologies such as DevOps, DataOps, and especially AIOps and MLOps — which focus on applying generative AI to automate, streamline, and optimize IT service management and operational workflows — have become indispensable for professionals looking to develop their careers in this field.
Leadership skills are key for these profiles. This also includes the ability to manage people and handle the ongoing process of adapting to constant change, driven largely by working with disruptive and innovative technologies that bring continuous transformation.
Salaries for this profile, which require strong people management skills, typically exceed €60,000 gross per year.
What to Study?
The educational level required for tech profiles has always been a challenge, with a gap between market needs and the skills professionals offer.
This is because many professionals, despite having highly specialized scientific and technological skills, are often self-taught. Fundación Telefónica aims to provide free, high-quality training that aligns with current market needs. As part of this initiative, we launched the 42 programming campuses.
At these campuses, individuals over the age of 18, regardless of prior technical education, can learn programming and specialize in the tech disciplines of their choice. If you want to learn more about the 42 campuses, simply click the link.
