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The artificial intelligence revolution is triggering a global workforce restructuring, putting thousands of jobs at risk
The emergence of artificial intelligence in the corporate environment is starting to reveal its harsher side: massive layoffs. Microsoft and IBM, two historic tech giants, have announced significant staff cuts as part of their automation process and adaptation to the new digital era led by AI.
Microsoft has initiated a restructuring affecting 3% of its workforce, while IBM has confirmed the layoff of 9,000 employees in the United States, with plans to automate another 3,000 positions in the coming months. Although these figures may seem moderate in proportion to their global structures, their symbolic and social impact is enormous: it marks a turning point in how technology is reshaping the job market.
Replacement Starts with Non-Technical Profiles
According to analysts from the podcast “Camino a las Nubes” by SpainClouds, these restructurings are not limited to technical areas. On the contrary, many of the affected roles belong to sales, marketing, or administrative support departments, which have traditionally been less exposed to the risk of automation.
“Non-technical profiles are now the most vulnerable. Generative AI tools are replacing entire processes more efficiently and cost-effectively. The challenge for these workers is twofold: job loss and the difficulty of adapting to new skills that require advanced knowledge in automation and data analysis,” commented the SpainClouds team.
Replacement or Workforce Transformation?
In the face of this wave of layoffs, an inevitable question arises: will the jobs that are being destroyed be replaced by new roles related to the development, management, and oversight of AI? In theory, yes. Automation paves the way for a new generation of jobs focused on prompt engineering, model training, DevOps in multicloud environments, and specialized technical sales. However, the speed of change casts doubt on the ability of thousands of professionals to adapt in time.
“A person working in automation can take on tasks that previously required 20 or 30 employees. That changes the balance of the labor market,” explains Víctor Estival, co-founder of SpainClouds. “A coordinated effort between governments, companies, and educational institutions is needed for those affected to find a realistic path to retraining.”
Opportunities in the New Digital Ecosystem
Not all is gloom. The rise of quantum computing, data centers, and the expansion of cloud infrastructure are creating new hubs of qualified employment. Merlin Properties, for example, has announced an investment of nearly 3 billion euros in data centers in Spain and Portugal. Initiatives like these will require talent in cybersecurity, systems administration, energy efficiency, and IT infrastructure management.
The Spanish technical community is also showing signs of vitality. The SpainClouds Summit 2025 brought together hundreds of professionals around discussions on Kubernetes, MCPs, AI agents, and multicloud strategies. Additionally, free courses are being offered, such as the AWS CDK course, aimed at promoting practical skills in infrastructure as code environments.
Conclusion: The Change is Already Here
The layoffs at Microsoft and IBM are just the beginning of a broader transformation. AI is no longer just a tool; it is a new player in the workforce. As companies cut costs and optimize processes, the major challenge will be ensuring that the benefits of this technology do not leave millions of workers behind.
Spain and Europe have a historic opportunity to lead this transition from an inclusive, ethical, and talent-oriented perspective. The road will not be easy, but the conversation has already started.
video from SpainClouds.