Latinos are a big part of the workforce in fields like agriculture, construction, retail and food services. These fields are starting to use more automation. Some people are left out because they don’t have the right digital skills.

Latinos working in these fields are at risk. They might get left behind by automation. Workers face barriers like not being able to speak English well enough, having lower access to  the internet and lacking education so according to a report by researchers at the University of California.  Some might lose their jobs to machines, but the issue isn’t just about tech—it’s about fairness.

When self-check kiosks and AI-powered chatbots were installed in a Phoenix hotel, Valerie Gills, 32, had been working as a receptionist but those new additions made her job obsolete and she was let go. With each new automated task, it seemed like opportunities for humans like her were shrinking. She  had no choice but to find temporary work and she reached a point where she knew she needed to get better, faster.

Not all hope is lost, however. Automation can also create new jobs, lead to better working conditions and help prevent burnout. Remiro Cavazos believes that Latinos have a fighting chance if they work towards better education, they will make progress and become even more skilled. New roles are already popping up in the tech world, and Latinos need to be a part of that change so they can thrive. They need to adapt and understand that automation is the future.

Although artificial intelligence and automation spread quickly through Latinos working fields like food services and retail, the changes don't have to be negative. Workers are not the only ones who must adapt, but society as a whole. The Hispanic Chamber works with over 500 foundations to provide workers with the right training they need.

Latinos are at risk because historically they have been in labor-intensive jobs like food service. In California alone, 2. 3 million Latinos are at risk of automation. Of these workers, 21% do not have access to high-speed internet at home. 67% of Hispanic adults reported owning a computer as compared to 8 in 10 white adults in a 2021 Pew Research study.

Many Latinos are in low-skilled, low-paying jobs with little opportunity for pay raises. The digital divide can be a huge obstacle for these workers. Several organizations exist to help. Founder Carlos Vasquez believes that apprenticeships are a major win-win for everyone and employment with training in different areas. Miami Ed Tech offers apprenticeships in AI, data science and web design.

Diana Caba wants to help close the digital divide. The Hispanic Federation has trained 35, 000 people, with 70% completion and 6, 000 of those have found new jobs. Latino communities need to find a way to give all workers a place in the new economy.

People like Dylan Pravia, a mechanical engineering student at Florida International University, prove the effectiveness of these programs. He trained with Miami Ed Tech and because they gave him opportunities, he felt prepared and he saw the progress he could make with skills in AI, programming and engineering.

Changing up jobs and getting better through training is key to survival in the face of automation. It is not something we can change, but we can adapt to it to create new opportunities and learning skills like programming and learning about artificial intelligence creates the skills that are needed.

Latino Workers Race Against the Clock: Tech Skills or Left Behind?

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