Inteligencia artificial y transformación de las habilidades laborales: una aproximación al mercado laboral de Bucaramanga y su área metropolitana

Abstract

This study analyzes the transformation of job skills associated with the introduction and use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area. Interest in this topic arose from the II Visionaries Summit 2026, held at Neomundo, where power skills, leadership, and innovation were discussed through presentations by Borja Castelar, Iván Duque, and Andrés Bilbao. A qualitative, descriptive research study was conducted based on a documentary review of studies from the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Colombia; statistics from DANE and IMEBU; the 2026 Departmental Competitiveness Index; and Santander's planning documents. This research was complemented by a review of 46 job vacancies published in the metropolitan area. The findings show that AI replaces information-processing tasks, complements analytical and customer service tasks, and creates new supervisory tasks. Consequently, digital skills, critical thinking, socio-emotional skills, and occupation-specific knowledge are becoming increasingly important. In the metropolitan area, the observed demand is concentrated in operational and technical positions, as 73% of the vacancies reviewed require a high school diploma, while only 3.1% require a university degree. Meanwhile, Santander ranks second in higher education and 11th in the labor market component. Seven skills gaps were identified, including a mismatch between educational attainment and job requirements, a lack of AI literacy among employed workers, and an information gap regarding skills. Finally, six public policy initiatives are proposed, each with specific objectives, actions, and responsible stakeholders, aimed at reducing these gaps and retaining human talent in the region.