DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN SKILLS ACQUIRED BY INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS AND LABOR DEMANDS IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Abstract

This article addresses the gap between the professional skills acquired by industrial engineers during their academia training and the demands of the Colombian labor market in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The objective of the analysis is to identify the discrepancies between the skills taught in academic programs and the current requirements of companies, with the aim of proposing strategies to align academic curricula with the needs of the productive sector. The scope of the research includes an analysis of the key competencies required by industrial engineers in an increasingly automated and digitized work environment, considering Colombia's national qualification catalogs, as well as the strategies needed to reduce the human capital gap. To achieve this objective, the research employed a literature review of Colombia's national qualification catalogs and a review of international reports from the World Economic Fórum, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and OECD, as well as national reports such as those developed by ACOFI. The results show that although industrial engineers possess traditional competencies such as production management and process ímprobamente, they lack critical skills related to digitization, automation, data analysis, and sustainability, which are highly demanded in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, it was identified that companies value both technical skills and socio-emotional skills, such as resilience and leadership. In conclusion, it is necessary to update industrial engineering programs, implement active teaching methodologies, and foster strategic partnerships with the business sector.