Episode: 334

Episode Title: The Changing Face of the Workforce

By 2030, Hispanic youth and other young people of color will make up more than half of the nation’s labor force. How are we preparing them? Let’s talk about it, next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 334 show:

Welcome to The Perna Syndicate! This week, we’ve been talking about why the tech field needs more female voices and mentors. Today, I want to discuss another under-represented group in the workforce: Hispanic youth. 

By 2030, Hispanic youth and other young people of color will make up more than half of the nation’s labor force. The face of America’s workforce is changing—and becoming more diverse every day.

That’s why it’s so important for companies to invest in these young people now. Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s also smart from a business perspective. These young people are not just the future labor pool, they’re also a rising segment of the consumer population. And they’ll want to support businesses that reflect the diversity they bring to the table. 

Despite making up about 17% of the workforce, Hispanic Americans currently hold just 4% of executive roles and 6.5% of STEM-related roles in the United States. Pew Research Center found that more than half of all Hispanics in the U.S. currently work in the retail, hospitality, food, construction or service industries—valuable fields, but not ones that typically require a professional degree or internship experience.

Hispanic Heritage Month came to a close in October, but it shouldn’t be something we recognize once a year and then move on. Like women in tech, Hispanic youth need ongoing representation, role models, and especially mentorship opportunities to reach their full potential at work.  

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about a mentorship program designed specifically for Hispanic youth and other young people of color—and how it’s making a powerful impact. Thanks for listening and we’ll see you back here tomorrow on The Perna Syndicate!