A McKinsey study reveals that demand for AI-fluent specialists in Latin America grew nearly 11-fold between 2023 and 2025. The analysis covered five regional economies and found that the need for AI expertise advanced faster than any other skill category.
AI fluency goes beyond knowing how to use tools like ChatGPT or Gemini. It involves the ability to operate, manage, and create with AI systems, and this expertise is spreading even to professions traditionally distant from technology.
For workers, this means that preparing for the job market requires not only understanding how technology works, but also developing skills to apply it to everyday tasks, processes, and decisions.
What the research reveals about the job market
McKinsey’s research estimates that jobs requiring AI fluency in the analyzed economies grew from approximately 800,000 to 8.5 million between 2023 and 2025, an increase of about 10.9 times.
Most of this growth occurred in occupations outside the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including business, operations, and other professional roles.
The distinction lies in the type of knowledge required. While technical skills involve building and implementing AI systems, fluency enables a professional to use these solutions in their daily routine, even without being a programmer.
Four essential skills for the future professional
1. Mastery of AI tools
Knowing how to formulate commands, review answers, and recognize the limitations of AI tools is a practical skill. For example, a marketing professional can use AI to organize research data, suggest content structures, and compare text versions. Human review remains essential to validate information and ensure it meets the objective.
2. Data analysis
AI relies on data to generate insights. Understanding spreadsheets, indicators, and the quality of information helps evaluate the responses produced. In finance, for example, AI can be used to identify patterns in reports without forgoing verification of the original numbers.
3. Strategic business vision
McKinsey also identified an increase in demand for business analysis and process improvement in Latin America. This highlights the importance of professionals who can connect technology to companies’ concrete needs. Knowing where to apply AI means recognizing repetitive tasks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for productivity gains. A tool can summarize documents, but it is up to the professional to define which information is relevant for a decision.
4. Continuous learning
The World Economic Forum estimates that 39% of essential skills required at work will change by 2030, with AI and big data among the categories with the highest expected growth. To keep up with this transformation, continuous learning can involve courses, practice with tools, and updates on the impacts of technology on one’s own profession.
How to prepare for the changes
AI fluency does not replace the specific knowledge of each field. An accountant, an HR professional, and a marketing analyst can use the same tools, but they need to understand distinct risks, objectives, and criteria.
The McKinsey report also highlights that skills such as problem-solving, communication, and teamwork remain relevant. The observed trend is one of collaboration between people and AI systems, rather than just task replacement.
Executive education in artificial intelligence
For professionals who need to deepen their knowledge of technology and business, executive education in AI can combine technical fundamentals, data analysis, governance, and practical application. The need for updates tends to vary according to profession, sector, and the company’s level of technological adoption. The key point is to understand which tasks can be improved with AI and which skills help evaluate its results.
