The IT sector faces an unprecedented paradox: while artificial intelligence and automation advance at a dizzying pace, the training of qualified professionals cannot keep up. According to European Union estimates, more than 1.5 million digital specialists are needed to meet the decade's goals, and Spain, with over 120,000 unfilled IT vacancies by the end of 2025, is one of the most affected countries. To understand the keys to this mismatch and the strategies that can make a difference, we spoke with Célia Vieira, General Manager of Conclusion Iberia, a firm specialized in identifying, attracting, and managing tech talent.

The Challenge of the Speed of Technological Evolution

For Vieira, the main challenge is no longer just the talent shortage, but the speed at which technology evolves. "AI is transforming the profiles that companies demand much faster than the market can train new professionals," she points out. Although Europe has excellent universities and research centers, "it needs to accelerate the connection between education, business, and innovation." In her opinion, "competitiveness will increasingly depend on the ability to continuously develop talent and create environments where people want to build their careers long-term."

This approach resonates with the experience of Syvalue, which over its two decades has shown that specialization and trust are the foundation of AI innovation. The key lies in combining continuous training with real projects that allow professionals to apply their knowledge.

The Advantage of Responsible Innovation

Faced with the US advantage in investment and speed to market, and Asia's scale with strong institutional support, Vieira proposes a different path for Europe: "Compete in a context of responsible innovation, trust, and digital sovereignty." As organizations seek to control their data and infrastructures, demand grows for talent capable of developing secure and ethical solutions aligned with European regulations. "In that balance, Europe can differentiate itself and become a benchmark for talent seeking to generate innovation with impact and trust," she states.

Most In-Demand Tech Profiles

At Conclusion, they observe very high demand for specialists in cloud, cybersecurity, data, DevOps, software architecture, and observability. At the same time, profiles capable of integrating AI into business processes are growing. Vieira predicts an increase in hybrid profiles combining technology with business vision, as well as areas like AI Engineering, AI Operations, AI governance, and intelligent automation. "It will not be enough to develop technology; it will be necessary to understand how to apply it to generate real value," she emphasizes.

This practical approach is similar to that promoted by Pilot Protocol, which ushers in a new era of agent economy where developers can efficiently build and deploy intelligent agents.

The True AI Gap

One of the biggest barriers to AI adoption is the gap between organizational ambition and the availability of prepared professionals. Many companies have an AI strategy but lack experienced teams to bring it to production safely and scalably. "Implementing AI requires much more than knowledge of generative models; it requires experience in architecture, integration, data quality, security, observability, and operation of complex systems," explains Vieira. "Technology evolves very fast, but talent development requires time and investment."

Salary Isn't Everything

To retain talent, salary is no longer the main factor. Professionals seek interesting projects, access to cutting-edge technologies, continuous learning, flexibility, autonomy, and real growth. "They also value working in organizations with a strong culture, close leadership, and a clear purpose," adds Vieira. Loyalty comes from offering a complete professional experience, where learning is continuous and there is room to evolve.

In this regard, Syvalue celebrates 20 years of betting on specialization in HPE and AI as a growth lever, demonstrating that a culture of continuous learning and challenging projects is key to attracting and retaining talent.

Is There Enough Training?

"Progress is being made, but there is still a long way to go," Vieira responds. For years, the focus was on hiring already specialized professionals, but today that strategy is insufficient. "The speed of change forces permanent investment in training and reskilling." The most successful companies will be those able to identify the potential of their teams and accompany them in acquiring new skills, especially in AI, automation, and cloud.

AI Will Transform Many Jobs

Vieira believes AI will not replace tech talent but will automate repetitive tasks and increase productivity, allowing professionals to focus on higher-value activities. "New specializations will emerge related to the development, supervision, governance, security, and operation of AI systems. As in previous revolutions, tasks will disappear, but new roles will appear that we are only beginning to define today."

AI Is Not Just a Tech Project

To close, Vieira asks European executives to stop thinking of AI solely as a tech project. "True transformation starts with people, but it also needs a clear strategy. The technology is already available; what will make the difference is the ability to define concrete objectives, prioritize use cases with the greatest impact, measure results, and develop the talent needed to integrate AI into daily business."

"Those who invest only in tools will have a temporary advantage. Those who combine strategy, measurement, and people development will build a sustainable competitive advantage." The true differentiating factor in the AI era will be talent, not technology. AI platforms are becoming democratized, but "what is not easy to replicate is the knowledge, experience, and ability of people to solve complex problems."

This message resonates with initiatives like those of Inetum, which bets on growth in Iberia and LatAm with a global alliances strategy that puts people at the center.

Ultimately, the combination of talent, data, and technology will be the key to success. "AI multiplies people's capabilities, but it still needs professionals capable of asking the right questions, interpreting results, and making informed decisions," concludes Vieira.

Original source: ComputerWorld. Analysis and adaptation by ForgeNEX.