Californians of Color Will Be Unable to Participate in CA's Economy Unless Action is Taken
Los Angeles, CA – The Latino Institute for Corporate Inclusion ("LICI"), via a partnership with the Career Ladders Project and funding from the AT&T Foundation, today released anInformation Communication Technologies (ICT) Study that found that California Latinos and African-Americans, who comprise 76% of California's labor force, are being left behind in the state's high tech economy. The study also noted they will continue to be unable to participate in the high tech economy unless a Call to Action is heeded to build an inclusive ICT workforce.
"Unless we take action to address educational achievement gaps now, students of color will be unable to participate in the state's economy and ICT employers will have a hard time filling their workforce with Californians," said Luis Chavez, LICI Board Chairman. "Students of color make up a growing and substantially important segment of California's workforce. California's economy cannot grow unless this growing population is equipped to participate in the workplace of tomorrow."
The Information Communication Technologies (ICT) Study, conducted by LICI, in partnership with the Career Ladders Project, found that:
- People of color comprise more than 76% of California's labor force, yet Latinos and African-Americans have the lowest level of educational attainment in California.
- The creation and use of ICT lies at the heart of California's economy, daily lives and business endeavors.
- The changing demographics in California suggest that ICT employers will increasingly rely on a labor pool comprised of people of color.
- Key barriers for minority youth to ICT professions included financial hardship, lack of diverse role models, limited exposure and information about ICT careers and educational pathways, and lack of academic preparation and support.
"Changing the composition of the ICT workforce will not happen overnight," said Ruben Jauregui. President of LICI, "We must engage youth in career exploration early and equip and prepare Latino and African-American youth with information and support about ICT careers, hands-on learning experiences in both educational and workplace settings, and leverage collective resources to help them attain post-secondary credentials to advance in ICT."
The ICT Study included recommendations for a Call to Action. Chief among them are:
- Crafting coherent ICT pathways, from K-12 to college, that scaffold achievement and learning over time.
- Investing in professional development and continued learning by supporting teachers and practitioners on the ground to transform ICT education.
- Committing to a heightened level of collaboration beyond the norm, including strengthening partnerships with the goal of expanding the roles of stakeholders to help change the ICT pathway system.
LICI, along with partner Career Ladders Project, have committed to taking the first step in this process. A complete copy of the report can be found here:www.latinoinclusion.org
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