Logistics Beyond Technology: Why Human Talent Will Define Mexico

As AI, automation, and digital platforms redefine supply chains globally, there’s one truth we can’t ignore: none of it works without the right people.

Mexico has made impressive strides in attracting nearshoring investment, becoming a strategic hub for manufacturing and logistics in the Americas. But what will determine its long-term competitiveness isn’t infrastructure or tech adoption alone, it’s talent. The future of logistics in Mexico won’t just be built in warehouses or ports, it will be shaped in classrooms, training centers, and hands-on mentorships.

The Emerging Talent Gap

The supply chain roles of today didn’t exist a decade ago, and the next five years will demand even more specialized profiles. From sustainability analysts to automation managers, reverse logistics experts to trade compliance strategists, the entire ecosystem is evolving rapidly.

According to the World Economic Forum, over 50% of the global workforce will need reskilling by 2027, and supply chain is one of the top-affected domains. In Mexico, many companies are already struggling to find qualified talent for roles that require digital fluency, operational analytics, or knowledge of sustainable logistics practices.

A recent McKinsey study estimates that 60% of supply chain positions will require digital or green skills by 2030. Yet, the current training infrastructure is not scaling fast enough. As nearshoring accelerates, the risk is that Mexico becomes a logistics corridor, but not a logistics leader.

The gap is most evident in midlevel operational roles, where knowledge of both systems and execution is vital. These positions are the connective tissue between strategy and operations, and when they're underdeveloped, the entire supply chain suffers.

Regional Progress, National Challenge

Some regions are ahead. Nuevo Leon and Jalisco have launched dual education programs in partnership with logistics firms and tech institutions. These initiatives are integrating hands-on learning with AI tools, ERP systems, and circular logistics frameworks. But nationwide, efforts remain fragmented.

To meet projected demand, Mexico must train or upskill at least 250,000 logistics and supply chain professionals by the end of the decade. This includes planners, supervisors, data analysts, sustainability officers, and transport coordinators.

We need a structural shift in how we approach talent:

• Curricula aligned with real-time industry needs
• Public-private apprenticeships across sectors
• Digital certification programs with national reach
• Inclusion strategies to increase women’s participation, which still averages just 28% in logistics operations
• Promotion of English and data literacy as foundational skills in supply chain education

In addition, more investment must be made into regional logistics training centers, not only in industrial hubs, but in underserved areas with growing manufacturing potential. These centers can offer technical degrees, reskilling for experienced workers, and micro-certifications in specialized supply chain topics. The decentralization of talent development is essential to scale impact.

A Holistic Talent Ecosystem

What Mexico needs now is not just more trained professionals, but a cohesive ecosystem where academia, private sector, and government align their efforts. Talent development must be treated as a national competitiveness strategy, not a support function.

Investment in people drives innovation. When professionals are exposed to real-time tech, sustainable practices, and global trade scenarios, they become catalysts for transformation, not just executors of plans. Countries like Germany, Singapore, and South Korea have proven that world-class logistics depends on human capital as much as physical infrastructure.

Programs that connect students with real supply chain challenges — via internships, project-based learning, or simulation labs — must become the norm. Additionally, more cross-border training and bilingual education are needed to ensure Mexico's workforce can operate confidently in regional and global environments.

Talent as National Strategy

Infrastructure can be built. Platforms can be licensed. But resilient supply chains require human intelligence that can adapt, solve, and lead.

Mexico has the geographic advantage. It has trade frameworks like USMCA. But to truly lead, it needs to cultivate a future-ready workforce at scale.

Forward-looking companies are already investing in their people, embedding supply chain innovation into cross-functional roles, encouraging bilingual and bicultural expertise, and linking talent development to ESG performance indicators.

If we fail to invest in people with the same urgency we invest in technology, we risk losing momentum just as the world looks to us for supply chain solutions.

Because in the end, no matter how digital supply chains become, they’ll always need people to make them work.