Digitalization is an increasingly present reality in our lives and, consequently, also in our jobs. In recent months, it has become evident that one can work from home, through the intensive use of new tools such as Zoom or Jitsy. It is increasingly necessary to understand technology and know how to use it, as demonstrated by looking at the LinkedIn profiles of Barcelona workers.
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According to a report by LinkedIn and Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital), three out of four employees residing in the Catalan capital have digital skills on their list of abilities. From mastering everyday digital activities to knowledge of animation, video game development, graphic design, or data storage technologies.
And not only that: one out of four Barcelona workers already masters the so-called disruptive digital skills, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity, or robotics. These very specific skills are what enable the development of cutting-edge technologies, which serve to consolidate Barcelona's leadership in Southern Europe as the main technological hub.
The widespread knowledge of digital skills among Barcelona residents corresponds to the type of work generated in the city, where the software and information technology sector stands out above any other in terms of professional occupation, with 15%. It is above industry (10%), corporate services (9%), consumer goods (7%), and education (7%).
In this regard, LinkedIn has detected that the software engineer profile was the most sought after by companies in June and August, followed by that of project manager. Since the beginning of the year, there has also been a high demand for other jobs that require digital skills such as community manager, graphic designer, and customer service representative.
An unprecedented moment
"We are living through an unprecedented moment, in which both companies and workers have had to adapt their tools and services in record time. This has had an impact on the need to acquire new talents to cover these urgent needs, and among them, more technological profiles," explains the general director of LinkedIn in Spain and Portugal, Ángel Sáenz. "Making these new profiles compatible with existing ones is fundamental for progress, and the only way to adapt to these new needs is by recycling our knowledge and skills, thus taking another step in our professional career," Sáenz emphasizes.
The lack of talent is one of the challenges Barcelona faces to continue consolidating its technological ecosystem. The retraining of its workers is an option, but technical training and talent acquisition must also be promoted. That is why the director of Digital Talent at MWCapital, Jordi Arrufí, calls for "a decisive commitment to talent as an accelerating element for the competitiveness of the city of Barcelona."
"This new era of digitalization brings new professional needs and an effort must be made to cover them," says Arrufí, who points out that they have detected professional profiles that are not found in the city, especially those related to data, cybersecurity, or cloud.