Work 5.0: How AI Is Rewiring the Skills Employers Need

At the event “AI and the Future of Work (5.0): Redrawing the Professional Skills Map,” representatives from Tec de Monterrey’s Institute for the Future of Education (IFE) stressed the need for closer collaboration between companies and universities, as new skill requirements emerge faster than traditional educational models can keep up. Speakers noted that AI and other structural forces are reshaping global labor markets, accelerating the shift toward new competencies and more flexible training models.

The drivers of this shift include AI, robotics, digitalization, the green transition, geopolitical fragmentation, and cybersecurity risks. Demographic changes add pressure, particularly in Mexico, where the fertility rate has dropped to 1.9 and the population is aging faster than earlier generations. As the demographic pyramid begins to invert, universities face simultaneous demands: educating young adults entering a tight labor market and preparing for increased need for healthcare and elder-care competencies. 

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. The growing complexity of future roles means universities and employers must shift from traditional degree-based models to agile, skills-based approaches. “People often ask which jobs will exist in the future. The report lists them, but for universities, it is more useful to focus on the skills that will matter,” says José Escamilla, Associate Director, IFE. 

IFE has made this transition a core mission. The institution works across research, industry collaboration, impact programs, edtech development, and ventures aimed at closing Latin America’s talent gap, which remains the largest globally. The region’s employers routinely report that available workers do not match industry-specific needs, especially in high-growth areas such as AI, robotics, renewable energy, and big data. “We focus on two major areas: ensuring universities stay relevant by aligning with societal needs and becoming more agile, and addressing the talent gap — Latin America has the largest talent gap in the world, meaning employer needs are not being met by the available workforce,” says Escamilla.

The event highlighted Shaping Skills, an AI-driven platform that identifies emerging skill requirements in real time. The tool analyzes vacancies and industry behavior to measure the demand for knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) across sectors. It operates natively in English and Spanish, enabling universities in Latin America to request reports, real-time updates, and sector-specific skill maps. Institutions can use the results to update learning outcomes, redesign syllabi, guide curricular decisions, and evaluate demand for new programs or micro-credentials. The platform is already deployed in the information and communications and automotive sectors, with a pharmaceutical-focused taxonomy under development.

The system also targets employers seeking more precise job profiling. Companies can use it to update job descriptions, design training pathways, and conduct talent planning. Small SMEs, which often require single workers to cover multiple technical functions, may benefit from analyses that determine whether hybrid roles are feasible and what skill combinations are needed.

The initiative was recently nominated for the QS Reimagine Education Awards in the Employability category, which recognizes programs that strengthen workforce readiness. Winners will be announced during the December event in London.

Another component of Tec de Monterrey’s strategy is the AI Global Education Network (AIgen), created earlier this year to support responsible integration of AI across teaching, learning, and university operations. The network includes 44 universities across 11 Ibero-American countries, with working committees focused on ethics, faculty development, research, and technology deployment. Members are developing use cases that demonstrate practical applications of Generative AI, such as adaptive learning, personalized pathways, student-retention analytics, automated rubric generation, and authentic assessment design. These pilots will be presented during the upcoming IFE Conference.

The role of industry remains central. When asked about companies designing their own curricula to respond to talent shortages, Patricia Caratozzolo, Researcher, IFE, told MBN that large companies continue to rely on academic institutions because, while they know what skills they need, they do not always have the pedagogical capacity to design effective learning experiences. Retraining workers on advanced manufacturing processes often requires structured cognitive support, dedicated learning environments, and flexible scheduling.

The greater challenge lies with SMEs, which struggle with cost, time allocation and return-on-investment questions. Decisions about whether to retrain, reassign, or hire new workers are often economic choices rather than educational ones.

As Work 5.0 advances, universities, and companies are expected to pursue tighter collaboration, agile credentialing and data-driven workforce planning. While new technologies are creating opportunities, the rapid pace of change continues to test the capacity of educational institutions and employers to keep pace with evolving skill demands.