Mexico's Role in North America's Skilled Labor Market

Mexico's young population may provide a solution to labor shortages in North America through policies aimed at mobility and innovation, reshaping the industrial landscape.


Mexico's Role in North America's Skilled Labor Market

Mexico, with a younger population in comparison, is seen as a possible supplier of workers in the T-MEC renegotiation. The need to discuss this situation is proposed to facilitate the flow of talent and meet labor needs in the region. This dynamic could impact the productivity of northern countries. The challenge lies in creating a region that supports each other, which drives the idea of a collaborative North America.

In this regard, Mexico has the responsibility to move away from the maquiladora vision and become an innovation center. To achieve this, a comprehensive industrial policy is proposed to attract investments and promote a holistic vision to boost more complex processes. Close collaboration between the countries would include the development of research centers within industrial plants and the promotion of complex manufacturing processes.

The T-MEC renegotiation could highlight the importance of improving mobility policies to allow workers to move more easily between the three countries, thereby addressing labor shortages in key sectors. The Ministry of Economy must establish a clear agenda that drives sustainable industrial growth based on knowledge, instead of perpetuating the assembly model.

The decline in birth rates and the aging population in the United States and Canada underscores the need for young workers, especially in sectors like manufacturing and healthcare. Talent retention and the creation of conducive conditions for training, research, and technological development are key components of the proposed agenda.

Together, the deepening of the T-MEC renegotiation is proposed to address economic and demographic challenges, fostering integration that capitalizes on the strengths of each country and promotes a more competitive North America. The possibility of increasing temporary work permits or visas under T-MEC is presented as a way to balance labor needs and improve the efficiency of the migratory system in the region.