Juanmi Ferrer, president of the CAEB Restaurants Association, says he is confident the hospitality sector in the Balearic Islands will be less exposed to the disruptive effects of artificial intelligence than other parts of the economy.
Speaking at a Palma Beach press conference in Playa de Palma, Ferrer said he expects demand for workers in restaurants and tourism to remain strong, even as AI continues to reshape the wider labour market.
He pointed to clear regional differences in recruitment pressures, noting that areas such as Playa de Palma benefit from strong transport links and their proximity to population centres, making it easier to attract staff. By contrast, more remote locations continue to face greater challenges.
“I see that with the advances that will come in AI, people will queue outside restaurants asking us for work,” he said. While acknowledging that some industries could see significant job losses by 2031 as automation outpaces human labour, he added: “In the hospitality sector we will need everyone. And we’ll be happy to have them work with us.”
The comments came during an appearance alongside Pedro Marín, president of the Playa de Palma Hoteliers Association, and Mika Ferrer, chief executive of Palma Beach, where preparations for the Easter and summer seasons were also discussed.
Ferrer welcomed recent measures by the Spanish government to regularise undocumented migrants, arguing they would help ease labour shortages across key sectors, including hospitality. He said migrants who contribute to the Social Security system play an important role in supporting the wider economy.
Looking ahead to the peak tourist season, he reiterated that while well-connected areas are better placed to meet staffing needs, others may struggle, reflecting broader trends across Spain’s service economy as it navigates demographic pressures alongside rapid technological change.