Robotization in Mexico: How Are Talent Needs Changing in Manufacturing Plants?

09/10/2026 Back to all articles

How fast is industrial robotization growing in Mexico and worldwide?

The adoption of industrial robots continues to grow worldwide.

In 2025, 603,000 new industrial robots were installed globally, bringing the total to more than 5 million robots in operation worldwide, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). This represents an 11% increase from the previous year and the highest level recorded to date. The trend is expected to continue, with the IFR forecasting that annual installations will exceed 700,000 units by 2028.

Mexico is also part of this transformation. In 2024, 5,600 new industrial robots were installed in the country. The automotive sector accounted for 63% of these installations, reinforcing its position as one of the main drivers of industrial robotization in Mexico.

But behind these figures is a particularly important question for companies: What happens to talent as manufacturing plants introduce more robots?

What Do We Mean by Industrial Robots?

Not all robots are the same or perform the same function.

The IFR uses the definition established by ISO 8373 for its statistics. In simple terms, an industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable machine capable of performing different tasks through programmed movements on three or more axes within an industrial environment.

In a manufacturing plant, robotization can take different forms. Robotic arms can be used for tasks such as handling, welding, or assembly. Collaborative robots, or cobots, can work alongside operators in certain applications, while mobile robots can support the movement of materials within industrial and logistics environments.

This distinction matters because robotization does not refer to a single technology. Applications vary depending on the industry, process, and needs of each operation.

Where are industrial robots used in Mexico? Automotive, manufacturing and logistics

The automotive industry is currently the largest user of industrial robots in Mexico, but it represents only one part of the transformation.

In this sector, robotics can be used in processes such as welding, assembly, component handling, painting, and sealing. In other manufacturing operations, robots can be used for machine loading and unloading, palletizing, inspection, or material handling.

Logistics presents another scenario. Mobile robots can transport materials between different areas of a plant or warehouse, deliver components to production lines, or support the internal movement of goods.

Each application addresses a different challenge. And each can also change the capabilities organizations need to integrate, operate, maintain, and improve increasingly sophisticated systems.

This is where robotization stops being only a conversation about technology and becomes a conversation about talent as well.

Do robots replace jobs in manufacturing plants?

The introduction of robots does not necessarily mean that entire jobs will disappear. In many cases, it transforms specific tasks and changes the skills people need to perform them.

That is why the shift is not just about how many people a plant needs, but also the knowledge and skills required to keep its operations running effectively.

Maintenance teams need to ensure the availability and reliability of increasingly sophisticated equipment. Engineering needs to integrate new technologies into existing processes. Production teams must operate in an environment where people, machinery, and automated systems are increasingly interconnected.

This creates one of the main talent challenges: finding professionals who combine operational knowledge with the technical capabilities required in an increasingly robotized environment.

Which Roles Are Becoming More Relevant in a More Robotized Plant?

There is no single profile for a robotized plant. Talent needs vary depending on the industry, process, and level of robotization within each operation.

However, some roles may become particularly relevant:

• Maintenance Managers, who can manage increasingly automated equipment and anticipate failures that could affect operational continuity.
• Automation and Controls Engineers, responsible for integrating and optimizing automated systems within production processes.
• Process Engineers, who assess how to incorporate new technologies while maintaining productivity, quality, and efficiency.
• Manufacturing Engineers, who connect technology, processes, and production capabilities.
• Predictive maintenance specialists, who use equipment data to anticipate maintenance needs and reduce downtime.

But having specialists alone does not solve the challenge.

When a plant introduces robots, it also changes how Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and other functions work together. In addition to technical expertise, the ability to collaborate across disciplines and understand how one decision can affect the rest of the operation becomes increasingly important.

Finding this combination of industrial experience and emerging technological capabilities is not always easy.

39% of Workers’ Skills Will Change by 2030

Robotization is part of a broader transformation of the labor market.

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that 39% of workers' current skills will change or become outdated between 2025 and 2030. Technology-related skills are among those expected to grow fastest in importance, while human capabilities such as analytical thinking, resilience, flexibility, and collaboration will remain relevant.

For companies, this raises an important question: Which capabilities should they develop internally, and which will they need to bring in from the market?

The answer will likely involve both.

In fact, 85% of employers surveyed by the WEF expect to prioritize upskilling their workforce in response to the transformations anticipated through 2030. At the same time, 70% expect to hire people with new skills.

For manufacturing plants, this can mean developing new capabilities among existing teams while also bringing in specialized talent when the organization needs knowledge or experience that is not yet available internally.

What Skills Does Talent Need in a Robotized Plant?

Working in a more robotized environment does not mean every professional needs to become a robotics expert.

What changes is the combination of capabilities each position may require.

Depending on the role and the operation, the following capabilities may become increasingly relevant:

• Automation and controls, to understand how equipment and systems interact within the production process.
• Data analysis and diagnostics, to identify deviations, anticipate failures, and improve equipment performance.
• Systems integration, particularly when different technologies need to work together effectively.
• Maintenance and reliability, to ensure continuity in operations that increasingly depend on technology.
• Continuous improvement and problem-solving, to turn technology into tangible improvements in productivity, quality, or efficiency.
• Cross-functional collaboration, as robotization increasingly connects Engineering, Maintenance, Production, and Technology.

Technology is changing, but operational knowledge remains essential. The real value lies in combining both.

The Challenge Is Not Just Introducing Robots, but Preparing Talent

Industrial robotization will continue to advance. For companies, the question is not only how many robots they will introduce into their operations, but what capabilities they will need to make the most of them.

This means understanding which roles are evolving, which skills can be developed internally, and which professionals will need to be recruited from the market.

For talent teams, anticipating these needs can be just as important as the technology investment itself.

Because a plant can adopt cutting-edge technology, but turning it into productivity, quality, and operational continuity will still depend on the people capable of integrating it into the realities of the business.

Hiring Industry and Engineering Talent in Mexico

At Morgan Philips Specialist Recruitment, we help organizations identify specialized talent for Industry & Engineering, considering the technical capabilities, experience, and specific context of each operation.