Automakers - established in Mexico are gradually beginning to announce their investments and changes in production lines, aiming to start assembling electric vehicles. The transition has already begun, and the demand for talent is also rising.

Representatives of the sector are calling for coordinated action to create talento más preparado in the country, particularly specialized in the sector, with the aim of ensuring that Mexico maintains its position as the seventh-largest car producer in the world.

However, the need for labor seems to also be present in the regular processes focused on gasoline vehicle production. For example, Toyota Motor had to detener operaciones por 19 days between February and March at its Tijuana plant due to a local labor shortage that paralyzed the production of suppliers in the area.

According to Reuters, sources revealing information about the Japanese automaker stated that "some parts manufacturers are barely managing to maintain production due to the shortage of workers."

Armando Cortés, director of the National Auto Parts Industry, emphasizes the need for updated study programs to alignwith the sector’s requirements so that new talent can adapt accordingly.

“We are living in a very changing world. Every six months we have new technologies and new requirements in the global market, and in this sense, it is important that young people in Mexico can have studies and a curriculum aligned with what is needed in the market right now,” he said during a press conference at the Expansión .

According to talent consulting firm Robert Walters, companies are primarily seeking specialized personnel in areas such as digitalization and technology, as well as managers in electrical and electronics fields, software developers, data science and artificial intelligence specialists, and directors of advanced manufacturing.

The situation becomes even more specialized when looking at the requirements by supplier type. For example, for Tier 1suppliers, the most sought-after positions are product development managers and quality managers, while for Tier 2 suppliers positions include manufacturing process coordinators and project managers in engineering.

From Cortés' perspective, one alternative is for companies to get involved in designing curricula and developing study programs focused on the sector in the country, outlining the specific skills the industry requires.

For example, some automakers have universities or educational programs in the country designed to develop the talent needed by companies in a more detailed way, such as Nissan in Aguascalientes or Audi in Puebla.

Having a higher degree of specialization in talent in Mexico also stands out as an opportunity for the country to join advanced manufacturing processes, which involve creating more advanced products, leading to better economic spillover and knowledge transfer.

One example of a challenge that could become an opportunity is semiconductor manufacturing, ,which does not currently exist in the country. Mexico is aiming for a place in this industry, which is still developing not only in the country but across the continent.

“The participation of the entire federal government through its agencies and the private sector is required to drive high-value projects that allow Mexico to position itself even better in the automotive industry, not only in manufacturing but also in technological development,” Cortés asserts.

Source: https://expansion.mx/empresas/2024/06/28/industria-automotriz-crece-y-demanda-de-talento-tambien