If there’s one thing I took away from the Skills4LAC Summit 2025 in Belo Horizonte, it’s this: bridging the gap between education and industry isn’t just a nice idea, it’s essential if we want to prepare the workforce of the future.

I had the honour of delivering the keynote speech on the opening day, speaking on behalf of People 1st International to highlight why stronger links between employers and educators matter more than ever. I spoke about how growth sectors need talent with the right skills at the right time and how getting that right is a shared responsibility.

Education and industry: Closing the gap

One of the strongest themes to emerge from the summit was the ‘abyss’ between what employers need and what traditional curricula deliver. Speakers talked about the growing importance of soft skills and evolving technical capabilities, and the need for businesses to play a more active role in mentoring students and collaborating with educators.

We also explored why technical vocational education is too often treated as “second tier” in Latin America and the Caribbean, and why that perception and mindset must change. Governments have a part to play here, creating policies that incentivise collaboration, while businesses need to see the value of engaging with schools and gaining access to young talent. Most importantly, students must have realistic work experiences that connect classroom learning with the workplace.

Aligning learning with workforce needs
Workforce development ran through the summit like a thread. From best practice showcases by SEBRAE, PEN Worldwide and JA Minas Gerais to engaging TED-style talks and collaborative sessions, the message was clear: when learning is closely connected to the realities of work, we build stronger skills, better jobs and more inclusive futures.

At its core, this is about strategic workforce development: creating clear career pathways supported by structured learning opportunities that align with national frameworks. Effective workforce development depends on coordinated investment and policies that develop robust national skills standards, career frameworks, and occupational pathways. It also requires employers to adopt and align their own workforce strategies with these frameworks, ensuring professional development leads directly to the skills and capabilities industries need most.

There was also recognition that lifelong learning is critical, not only to help individuals adapt and progress, but also to enable businesses to stay competitive in fast-changing markets. Millions of adults across the region are looking to reskill or upskill, and work-based learning can help them do just that. Scaling access and building pathways for everyone, not just those at the start of their careers, represents one of the biggest opportunities for inclusive growth.

Skills for a new era

Another major focus was the future, and the skills people will need in a world shaped by technology and sustainability. One panel explored how Latin America and the Caribbean is poised to create 15 million green jobs by 2030, but only if we equip young people with the right knowledge.

We heard how Brazilian energy company Petrobras is already using AI to reduce emissions and boost efficiency; but crucially, they are achieving this by investing in workforce upskilling. By equipping employees with the digital and analytical skills needed to harness new technologies, Petrobras shows how human capability and AI adoption go hand in hand.

At the same time, there was an honest conversation about AI’s impact on work. While it’s true that AI is replacing some repetitive tasks, it can’t substitute critical thinking, creativity or human judgement. The future will rely on people and AI working together, each complementing the strengths of the other.

Looking ahead

By the time the summit wrapped up, one thing was clear: bridging the gap between education and industry is entirely possible if we work together. It will take collaboration, innovation and a relentless focus on people, but the conversations and ideas shared in Belo Horizonte showed that progress is already happening.

By working together across borders and sectors and by putting people and skills at the centre of our policies and programmes, we can shape a future that is inclusive, dynamic and full of opportunity.