As the news focuses on stalled trade negotiations in North America, Canada, Mexico and the United States have shocking skills gaps that are already hampering economic performance and competitiveness.
North America’s labor markets face massive technological disruptions, which should point all three countries toward preparing the jobs that will serve the continent well in the future.
In the U.S., for example, up to 1.4 million workers may lose their jobs by 2026 because of new technologies. Sadly, none of the three economies are ready for the challenges of further automation.
Manpower’s most recent skills survey found employers struggling to fill vacancies: 46 percent in the U.S., 40 percent in Mexico and 34 percent in Canada. Inadequate experience and lack of hard and soft skills are the most-cited reasons for not finding the right candidates.
Author
Earl Anthony Wayne
Public Policy Fellow;
Former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico; Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, School of International Service, American University
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Former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico; Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, School of International Service, American University
Mexico Institute
The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute. Read more
