Latine workers in California are at high risk of losing their jobs due to growing automation, the use of technology to perform repetitive tasks without human involvement.
According to a new report by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Latine workers are overrepresented in occupations most vulnerable to automation, such as agricultural laborers, construction laborers, landscaping workers and cooks.
“Latino workers face significant challenges as their job responsibilities become more technical and analytical,” the report states. “Digital literacy and skills are low among Latino workers, and many lack English proficiency, meaning they cannot access online learning opportunities for upskilling, which require English.”
Latine workers being affected by the technological divide
Research from the National Skills Coalition found that 57% of currently employed Latine people aged 16 to 64 had little to no digital skills, compared to a US average of 31%, as stated in the report. Also, several Latine people have fractured digital knowledge due to a lack of high-speed internet or computer access.
The report found that around 6% of Latine workers in high automation-risk occupations did not have household internet access, while 21% of Latine workers in these roles do not have access to high-speed internet.
There’s also the issue of language, as nearly one-third of Latine workers have limited English proficiency, and many workers struggle to access high-quality online learning opportunities. This makes it harder for several Latine workers to upskill as they aren’t fluent in English.
What can be done to tackle this issue?
Researchers in the report suggest that policymakers should try to increase “the Employment Training Funds and Apprenticeship Training Contribution Fund to develop and expand on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs for incumbent workers.”
Carlos Vasquez, founder of Miami EdTech, a nonprofit focused on providing the skills Latine students need for upward mobility, agrees with this sentiment, telling AP News that apprenticeships are extremely beneficial to Latine as they are paying jobs that offer training from an organization.
The report also suggests “Investing in financial aid and holistic supports to help them complete once they enrol. More than half (54%) of workers ages 16-24 in high automation-risk jobs are out of school, and only 4% have an associate degree or higher. “
Image: WOCintech
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