The Global AI Talent Boom and Mexico’s Challenge
In the midst of a fierce “talent war” for technology-related fields in recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a catalyst for a “new wave” in the demand for these profiles among companies worldwide.
Globally, it is estimated that over the past two years, 1.3 million jobs related to AI have been created, including new roles such as AI and advanced deployment engineers, data taggers, and 600,000 in data-related data centers. This information is noteworthy not only for the growth in AI talent demand but also because it occurs amidst a “slowdown” in the creation of new jobs overall in companies.
In 2025, hiring rates remained between 20% and 35% below pre-pandemic levels in advanced and developing economies, including Mexico and Brazil, according to Dan Shapero, LinkedIn’s operations director. This is more due to global economic uncertainty than the rapid emergence of AI in the labor market, especially generative AI.
“Contrary to general assumptions, AI is not responsible for the slowdown in hiring: economic uncertainty, changes in monetary policy, and post-pandemic hiring adjustments are the main culprits. In fact, outside of clinical healthcare roles, hiring patterns are similar for jobs with high AI exposure and those with low exposure,” Shapero explained.
Mexico’s Paradoxical Situation
For Mexico, the situation is more complex and paradoxical. While general hiring in the country has slowed by 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels, there has been a “silent exodus” of AI talent to other regions.
Data presented at the World Economic Forum (WEF) show early signs of a trend where Mexican specialized AI human capital is being exported rather than retained within national companies. This reality is shared with nations like Israel, India, Brazil, and Indonesia.
This trend is not a coincidence but the result of new transborder competition where tech talent is eight times more likely to relocate compared to the average professional, according to LinkedIn’s “Labor Market Report: Building a Working Future That Works.”
This element makes Mexico’s challenge even greater, as 70% of companies face difficulties filling vacancies due to the growing competition that is no longer just local, according to ManpowerGroup estimates.
The Global Race for “New Collar” Workers
The world is in a race for so-called “new collar” workers – individuals with advanced technological skills but without traditional university degrees, relying instead on proven experience and alternative certifications.
The issue is that Mexico competes in this global race without a clear strategy for accelerated digital skills training, AI adoption by companies, or incentives to retain these profiles.
If Mexico fails to reshape its talent strategies to retain this critical capability, it will remain a “talent nursery” for foreign entities rather than a driver of national digital transformation.
The Value Creation Dilemma in AI
In the AI talent value chain, the problem isn’t just about who leaves but where the value is generated. Countries that successfully integrate these capabilities into their productive apparatus generate higher levels of productivity, innovation, and growth. Those that don’t risk being left out of the new technological wave, even as they train the individuals who make it possible.
