A specialist innovation centre for the Mexican leather and footwear sectors has called for funding for its training programmes to continue, even though the young people completing its courses are struggling to find work in the industry.

 

Luis Torreblanca, director general of the centre, CIATEC, has spoken of a vicious circle. For the Mexican industry to keep growing and maintain its competitiveness in the global market, it must continue to produce highly skilled technicians. However, as growth and competitiveness are difficult to achieve, few CIATEC students are finding jobs at the end of their training.

More than 1000 young technicians completed CIATEC training programmes last year. Mr Torreblanca did not specify the numbers that have managed to find jobs in the industry.