Podcast Summary: "La economía de Hoy por Hoy | El sueldo de los trabajadores de las empresas más expuestas a la IA ha caído casi un 5%, según el IESE"

Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Àngels Barceló
Economics Segment Guest: Jordi Fábrega
Podcast: Hoy por Hoy, SER Podcast

Episode Overview

This episode’s main theme centers on the tangible impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on salaries and employment opportunities within companies most exposed to this technology. The discussion focuses on new findings from an IESE study analyzing over 138 million U.S. workers across five decades, specifically highlighting changes since the advent of AI tools like ChatGPT. The conversation explores how wage reductions primarily affect young and entry-level employees and examines shifting patterns in labor market entry.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. AI’s Effect on Salaries

• Overall Salary Decline in High-AI Companies:

  • According to a recent IESE study, companies heavily investing in AI technologies have seen average salaries drop by 4.5% compared to less exposed firms.
  • (05:50) “Tras la llegada de ChatGPT, los salarios medios en las empresas más expuestas al uso de la inteligencia artificial cayeron de media un 4,5%…” —Jordi Fábrega

• Differentiated Impact by Job Level:

  • Senior Staff: Little or no effect; salaries remain the same or even increase.
    • (06:37) “El sueldo del personal senior... apenas se ha visto afectado. De hecho, siguen cobrando lo mismo o incluso cobran más.”
  • Intermediate-Level Employees: Witness a moderate decrease in wages, with drops as much as 5.9%.
    • (06:50) “Sufren los salarios del personal intermedio que bajan hasta un 5,9%.”
  • Junior/Young Employees: The most negatively affected, with entry-level salaries falling by 6.3% in high-AI companies versus others.
    • (07:02) “La bajada de sueldos es mayor para el personal junior... los salarios de entrada en las empresas han bajado un 6,3%...”

2. Growing Wage Inequality and 'Cheap Knowledge'

• The reduction in junior-level wages widens structural pay gaps between workplace levels.
  • (07:15) “Se apuesta por el conocimiento barato, dicen los autores del estudio, y se intensifica una brecha importante en el empleo.”

3. Changing Opportunities for New Entrants

• Reduced New Graduate Opportunities:

  • The creation of junior job positions has decreased by 4%, while demand for intermediate roles grew correspondingly.
  • (07:30) “La proporción de nuevos puestos de trabajo junior... ha bajado un 4%. En cambio, la de nuevos puestos de nivel intermedio ha aumentado prácticamente en la misma medida.”

• Labor Market Entry Now Harder:

  • Companies are “skipping” the first rung on the employment ladder, hiring fewer recently graduated, entry-level staff and favoring more experienced, intermediate hires.
  • (07:50) “Las compañías están desplazando la contratación hacia puestos de nivel intermedio... lo que están haciendo es... saltarse el primer escalón de entrada en el mercado laboral para las personas más junior.”

4. No Significant Drop in Total Employment, Just Redistribution

• The shift isn’t necessarily about losing jobs overall; instead, fewer opportunities are available for newcomers, intensifying competition for intermediate roles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the overarching impact:

  • (05:50) “Con la inteligencia artificial ahora hay salarios más bajos y también hay menos oportunidades para los trabajadores jóvenes.” —Jordi Fábrega

• On company motives:

  • (07:15) “Se apuesta por el conocimiento barato... cuanto más bajo estás en el escalafón laboral dentro de la empresa, más afectado estás por estas reducciones de sueldo.” —Jordi Fábrega

• On structural change in hiring practices:

  • (07:50) “Las compañías están desplazando la contratación hacia puestos de nivel intermedio... para saltarse el primer escalón de entrada en el mercado laboral para las personas más junior.” —Jordi Fábrega

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:50 — Data summary: Overall average salary drop and impact of ChatGPT/AI debut
• 06:37 — Differential wage impact by position seniority
• 07:02 — Specifics on junior employee pay decrease
• 07:15 — The concept of "cheap knowledge" and the employment gap
• 07:30 — Decline in junior entry-level job creation
• 07:50 — Hiring reshuffle and challenges for new graduates

Tone and Language

The tone remains informational, measured, and slightly cautionary. Host Àngels Barceló and economics reporter Jordi Fábrega clearly communicate both the immediacy of AI’s labor market effects and the longer-term structural risks, especially for new generations entering the workforce.

Conclusion

This episode underscores the complex double-edged sword of rapid AI integration: while bringing efficiency for companies, it simultaneously depresses entry-level wages and restricts opportunities for young workers beginning their careers. Listeners are offered a nuanced, data-driven perspective on how technological adoption is altering not only salary structures but also the very pathways by which people join the workforce.