7. Discussion: Skills Matching and Industrial Policy Alignment
The empirical dynamics observed in regional manufacturing hubs underscore an important distinction between aggregate employment expansion and substantive wage appreciation. Evidence examining the initial effects of nearshoring in Mexico demonstrates that while production realignment drives noticeable job creation across high-propensity manufacturing sectors, it does not immediately yield commensurate increases in real earnings or broad-based productivity gains [2]. This disconnect reflects broader theoretical characteristics of dual labor markets, where job creation during economic expansions often concentrates in entry-level or contractually flexible segments that remain exposed to structural wage rigidities and institutional frictions [3]. For graduates emerging from technical and dual training frameworks in the Bajío, this creates a transitional paradox. Although the alignment between firm-specific technical competencies and operational manufacturing needs accelerates initial labor market entry, the compensation structure remains anchored to established industrial baselines. Consequently, active vocational policies must look beyond gross placement rates and address the mechanisms that govern post-entry wage progression and skill upgrading within relocated supply chains.