AI Job Skills in Mexico Jump 148%

Demand for artificial intelligence skills in Mexico’s job market surged 148% between 2023 and 2025, underscoring a growing gap between the pace of technological adoption and workforce training, according to a new study by Get on Board in collaboration with Amazon Web Services.

The findings, published in the “Impact of AI 2025” report, show how companies are reshaping hiring needs as artificial intelligence and cloud technologies become more central to business operations. Employers are increasingly seeking candidates with applied digital skills, while traditional education pathways struggle to keep pace with these shifts.

This imbalance reflects a broader global trend. The World Economic Forum estimates that nearly 40% of current job skills will change by 2030, driven largely by advances in artificial intelligence, data analytics and automation. In Mexico, this transition has intensified pressure on companies that report difficulty finding candidates with job-ready technical competencies.

In Mexico there is a need for closer collaboration between companies and universities, as new skill requirements emerge faster than traditional educational models can keep up. According to ILO, more than 50% of professionals hired do not meet the desired profiles organizations are looking for, and there is a significant shortage of talent with the specific qualifications required by industries in Mexico.

The drivers of this shift include AI, robotics, digitalization, the green transition, geopolitical fragmentation, and cybersecurity risks. These trends frame what researchers describe as Work 5.0, a stage defined by human-AI collaboration, advanced digital skills, socioemotional competencies, and lifelong learning expectations. Rather than replacing humans, AI is expected to augment work through tools that support analytical thinking, adaptability, creativity, and learning-to-learn capabilities.

According to Salesforce’s Global AI Readiness Index, Mexico is positioned well below global benchmarks in their capacity to adopt and scale agentic artificial intelligence, highlighting structural gaps that could slow regional competitiveness. The findings point to low adoption, fragile regulatory foundations, limited innovation capacity and persistent talent shortages.

Mexico’s performance reflects the broader regional picture. Regulatory frameworks scored near the global midpoint, with Mexico at 8.3, but gaps appear in institutional capacity and effective implementation. Adoption remains the most pressing challenge. Mexico’s 3.3 score in diffusion and use of AI by government and the private sector falls far below the global average of 5.8, suggesting difficulties in turning national strategies into applied use cases.

Against this backdrop, Generation Mexico, a global nonprofit focused on youth employability, announced the launch of a new training pathway centered on AWS re/Start with a specialization in foundational artificial intelligence. The program targets university graduates and individuals with prior programming knowledge who are seeking to strengthen their profiles and enter high-demand technology roles.

Beginning in 2026, Generation Mexico plans to train 120 participants between the ages of 22 and 29 in cloud computing and artificial intelligence fundamentals. The initiative includes 503 hours of instruction delivered over 15 weeks of accelerated training, along with preparation for two official Amazon Web Services certifications: AWS Cloud Practitioner and AWS AI Practitioner.

“The labor market is sending a very clear signal: companies need talent with applied digital skills,” said Mercedes de la Maza, CEO, Generation Mexico. She added that the new program is designed to help young people complement their existing education and access technology jobs with growth potential, with an emphasis on long-term social mobility rather than short-term technical instruction.

The program is offered at no cost to participants and is structured to prepare them for entry-level roles that are increasingly relevant for organizations, including cloud support, process automation, data analysis and the implementation of basic artificial intelligence solutions. Generation Mexico aims for at least 85% of graduates to secure employment within six months of completing the program, building on outcomes achieved in previous technology-focused initiatives in Mexico and other countries.

Applications for the program will be open from Dec. 12, 2025, through Jan. 14, 2026. Details on registration and eligibility requirements are available through Generation Mexico’s official channels.

The launch is supported by a group of organizations that includes Caterpillar Foundation, Citi Foundation, Accenture, SAP, Bykon, Fomento Social Banamex, Fundación Coppel, Nacional Monte de Piedad and Fundación Santander. Their involvement reflects a shared interest in strengthening youth employability and positioning talent development as a driver of economic competitiveness in Mexico.

As demand for artificial intelligence skills continues to outpace supply, initiatives focused on intensive, market-aligned training are gaining relevance. For Generation Mexico, the new program represents an effort to contribute to the national discussion on human capital by offering a practical response to the technology talent gap facing Mexican companies.