As jobs turn into extra reliant on know-how, some Latino employees might be left behind as a result of a scarcity of digital abilities exacerbated by a scarcity of accessibility.
Latinos stay an integral a part of jobs in agriculture, building, retail and meals providers, however these jobs are additionally vulnerable to automation, leaving some unprepared for a altering position that depends extra on know-how, in line with a brand new report by researchers on the College of California Los Angeles.
Evaluation from the UCLA Latino Coverage Institute exhibits Latinos are overrepresented in fields vulnerable to automation. The report additionally gives recommendations on easy methods to enhance Latino financial mobility.
“This report sheds light on a critical but often overlooked reality: Automation is not just a technological issue but an equity issue,” mentioned Misael Galdámez, co-author of the report, “On the Frontlines: Automation Risks for Latino Workers in California.”
“Latino workers are on the frontline of automation risk, facing barriers like limited English proficiency, low digital access and educational gaps,” Galdámez mentioned.
‘Great progress’ seen
Valerie Gills, 32, spent three years as a receptionist at a resort in Phoenix, however in 2023, the resort arrange self-check kiosks and put in AI-powered chatbots on its web site to deal with reservations and requests.
She finally misplaced her job. Her employment troubles weighed on her psychological well being and “reminded me how weak workers like me can be when industries get everything automated.”
Ramiro Cavazos, president and CEO of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, mentioned that whereas automation displaces these with restricted abilities, it may additionally create new roles, present higher working situations and stop burnout.
“Automation affects people that don’t have access to the internet,” Cavazos mentioned. “Latinos, who traditionally are the ones impacted, have made great progress as we become more educated, more skilled.”