Artificial intelligence skills and their impact on the employability of university graduates

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology in multiple areas, including the labor market. Its incorporation into organizations redefines professional profiles, required skills, and employability conditions. In this context, it is essential to understand how university graduates are preparing to face these changes and what role their AI skills play in their integration into the workforce. The study aimed to analyze the level of AI skills and their impact on the employability of university graduates through a quantitative and descriptive design. A survey was conducted with a sample of 148 undergraduate and graduate graduates. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and visualized using graphs. The results indicated that graduates who report greater knowledge and more frequent use of AI tools, especially generative ones such as ChatGPT, are more likely to be employed in areas related to their majors and to perceive higher productivity and better professional alignment. However, a generational gap in digital skills was also identified, as well as a widespread feeling of insufficient preparation for the challenges of the current labor market. The conclusion is that AI skills are consolidating as a key differentiating factor in employability and that their formal incorporation into university curricula is urgently needed. The implications of the study point to the need for an educational transformation that integrates AI as a transversal skill, promotes ongoing teacher training, and fosters policies that guarantee inclusive education aligned with the challenges of the digital age.