Women’s participation in the Mexican labor market reached 46.3% in 2024 , according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) ; however, there are some sectors that are below average, such as the maintenance and support sector for heavy vehicles.

While women are estimated to have a participation of close to 21% of total jobs in the automotive industry , in the heavy vehicle maintenance and technical support segment it is only 11.5 percent.

In response to this reality, the Technicians and Engineers of the Future program was conceived as part of Scania’s Women Driving Change project , where, according to Alejandro Mondragón, president and CEO of the brand in Mexico, it is the result of the passion for this type of initiative, the support of the entire board , and being aligned with the personal values ​​of the members of the corporation.

Mondragón acknowledged that, as with any corporation, profitability is pursued, but this type of initiative changes paradigms, addresses the reality of the industry that requires skilled talent and that this need will become increasingly profound. Therefore, the objective is to raise awareness in the industry and encourage more companies to participate in these types of actions, and by filling these positions, productivity will be achieved.

Ana Laura Islas Tello, People Development & Sustainable Culture Manager of Scania Mexico, described that the initiative is part of their United Nations Global Compact strategies , and is a business strategy for Scania based on having more diversity of thought, and better products and services.

Starting point

The Technicians and Engineers of the Future program graduated the first nine women of this initiative, who are joining Scania’s maintenance and service activities for, in this case, the northern area of ​​the Valley of Mexico.

Ana Laura Islas acknowledged that the Scania Drivers program identified an area of ​​opportunity in terms of women’s representation, in order to begin building relationships with academia to promote the training of more women in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and in disciplines related to the transportation sector.

This effort involves joint work with the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) in Mexico, ProSociedad  and  Grupo CEDVA with the project to reach 15 female technicians and 45 female engineers annually for the next three years .

Islas emphasized that the brand’s entire effort is focused on ensuring that the graduates remain committed to working for Scania , and if they do leave the company, an effort will be made for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

Comprehensive vision

Although the Technicians and Engineers of the Future program aims to train specialists for the automotive industry, the curriculum is comprehensive and complements their technical training.

Therefore, in addition to STEM skills, they also receive soft skills training . “This program complements their academic training, with applications such as leadership workshops, resume writing, and interview preparation. We are becoming advisors for their professional careers ,” highlighted Adriana Davy, Marketing and Communications Manager at Scania Mexico.

“Another topic we talk about a lot is sisterhood. It’s normal for classrooms to be all girls, so sometimes they’re not used to being among women, and this type of training also aims to address emotional issues,” Davy added.

Among other topics,  personal finances are addressed , along with advice on managing their resources, because there is an awareness that some of these women may be the economic support of their households.

Although only technicians graduated in this first generation , some are engineering students and the goal is for them to also participate in the other program, which lasts for a year of training instead of three weeks .

For Scania’s executives, the goal is clear: to trigger the participation of more companies and the training of more women with the skills required by the industry, which will also allow them to change their lives and those of their families.

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With the aim of fostering interest in education that integrates skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM , as well as in the environment, KIA Mexico has implemented in 2025 a series of activities aimed at more than 500 primary and secondary school students in Nuevo León .

These initiatives are part of the automaker’s commitment to the educational and social development of the community and were developed in collaboration with specialists from the plant. The activities took place in educational institutions throughout the region, providing students with valuable academic and practical learning experiences .

Among the activities are the magnetism workshops , designed for elementary school students, in which the workings of magnets and magnetic fields were explained in a didactic way.

Through interactive activities, participants were able to apply the knowledge they had acquired, strengthening their understanding of fundamental scientific concepts, KIA Mexico announced in a statement.

Sessions focused on environmental awareness were also given , with topics such as water conservation through everyday actions that students can replicate in their homes.

In addition, classes were offered on the correct identification and separation of waste , promoting recycling, reuse and waste reduction practices, with a playful and educational approach.

With these initiatives, KIA Mexico reaffirms its commitment to the comprehensive development of new generations, promoting an interactive education that inspires young people to build a more sustainable and conscious future, the company stated.

According to Hays , a company that offers recruitment and workforce solutions, the demand for specialized technology talent has grown 47% since 2019, reflecting the need to fill positions in areas such as artificial intelligence and digital transformation, among other disciplines related to STEM skills.

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In the chemical industry, teaching new prospects and developing the workforce has made great strides towards having a qualified workforce , so it is important to develop curricula in accordance with new trends in the sector, such as dual education and disciplines in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM .

In the Talent Development and Workforce Trends session , within the framework of the LVI National Chemical Industry Forum , Fernanda González , head of Learning and Development Mexico & Central America/head of Professional Education Latam at Siemens , highlighted the dual training model, which is implemented in that company, which has allowed them to retain and attract the best talent .

To date, they have more than 300 apprentices and 11 courses offered, most of them in STEM sectors.

He stressed that the programs last from one and a half to two years and that at the end, students respond to changing trends.

González stressed that this model, which helps to foster a culture of innovation and ingenuity, has a structure that ensures the training of students by combining theory and practice , and in which the business community, academia and the student are involved.

At the event organized by the National Association of the Chemical Industry (ANIQ) , Andreas Müller , deputy director general of the Mexican-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Camexa) , said that the dual model is used in Germany to link academia with industry so that students can develop their professional skills in a company.

Saving training costs, selecting the best students and ensuring the availability of qualified personnel in the long term, among others, are some of the reasons why companies participate in this educational model, he said.

For her part, Guadalupe Silva , former director of the Higher School of Chemical Engineering and Extractive Industries (ESIQIE) of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) , highlighted the interest of students in the chemical industry, and stressed that there is a significant number of women working in chemical engineering .

Industry 4.0, which involves the digitalization of equipment and systems and the use of technology such as big data , will impact the training of future chemical professionals with comprehensive and complementary education, Silva said.

Gabriela Martínez , rector of the Technological University of Mexico (Unitec) , indicated that trends in higher education in Mexico are diversifying academic programs , so it is important to promote STEM careers to take advantage of the relocation of companies in the country ( nearshoring ).

The connection with the productive sector is important so that the student graduates with knowledge of the industry in which he will work, Martínez stated in his participation.

In turn, Salvador Reyes , Vice President of Human Resources for Mondelēz Snacking de México , spoke about the development of the talent that collaborates in this company.

Having a culture of well-being and fostering a connection with employees is necessary to properly run a company’s operations , added Reyes, who also highlighted various projects they carry out, such as Mondeleads , which is an accelerated learning and training program that he described as a breeding ground for future leaders .

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that by 2050, 90% of jobs will be related to STEM skills , despite this, only 16.5% of graduate students in Mexico are being trained in these disciplines, revealed a study by Structuralia , an online school in that sector.

Given this situation, it is necessary to encourage students to train in these disciplines , which are currently among the most valued and best paid in the labor market.

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