As automation continues to advance across the globe impacting almost every industry, job loss unfortunately is anticipated. However, a report from the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) claims that far fewer African-American and Latino workers will be forced into unemployment, if certain measures are taken. The report examined three local city economies in Gary, Indiana, Long Beach, California, and Columbia, South Carolina and concluded that localities have existing tools to mitigate job loss through programs such as apprenticeships and training programs—though they are not yet being fully utilized.
“Cities all across the country are grappling with similar challenges in regard to educating and retraining their workforce for the next phase of job automation,” said the Executive Director and General Counsel of AAMA, Stephanie Mash Sykes in a press statement. “While there are still many unknowns in regard to the magnitude of job losses, what is known is that now is the time for elected officials to work closely with educators and industry leaders to ensure workers have the needed skills for the future economy.”
Jobs lost to automation alone is ranging from 9% to above 50% in Latino and black workers in the studied cities. It falls to local leaders within these cities and others suffering from the same problems to coordinate resources and educate the people about available training programs. Mayors have the closest view on what their community’s needs are, and are best equipped to prepare their workforces for the future, according to the report.
The findings within the report entitled “The Future of Work: The Effect of Job Automation on African-American and Latino Workers in Three Cities” came from collaboration among the NALEO Education Fund, the Charles Hamilton House Institute for Race & Justice at Harvard Law School, Dr. Patrick Mason, Florida State University, and Dr. Zoelene Hill, Education Researcher for AAMA. A forum in September at the Harvard Law School will review the findings.
