Balearic Islands face digital gaps in AI adoption and vocational training

A recent report by the Consell Econòmic i Social (CES) of the Balearic Islands reveals that local companies are lagging behind the Spanish national average in artificial intelligence adoption. In 2025, only 14.2% of companies with ten or more employees in the islands utilized AI, compared to 21.1% across Spain. While micro-enterprises show adoption rates (12.5%) similar to the national average, larger firms struggle significantly. The primary barrier identified is a lack of specialized personnel, with 76.8% of non-adopting companies citing a deficit in internal digital competencies.

Conversely, a study by Fundación CaixaBank Dualiza and Fundación Cotec highlights the Balearic Islands as a leader in integrating innovation into Vocational Training (FP). The region is noted alongside Aragon, Galicia, and the Basque Country for its progress in this sector. Key drivers include the Centre de Formació, Innovació i Desenvolupament de la Formació Professional de les Illes Balears (CFINFP IB), which promotes pedagogical and technological innovation through initiatives such as hackathons and knowledge transfer projects designed to meet real-world business challenges.