As Latino work force grows, employers must adapt

NORTH BAY – Latinos are the fastest-growing demographic segment in Sonoma County, and the group will represent a projected 26 percent of the population by 2020 and 51 percent by 2050.

However, many Latinos are not getting enough education and training to prepare for the workplace and to meet employer expectations, said Fifth District Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo as he opened the Fourth Annual Latinos in the Workplace conference at the Hilton Hotel Thursday hosted by the Northern California Engineering Contractors Association and Vantreo Insurance Brokerage.

As more Latinos enter the work force, job-related fatalities are increasing in this population group and decreasing in others. “Out of economic necessity, Latinos often take more hazardous jobs. While Latinos nod their heads implying that they understand supervisor instructions, many are often confused about what to do, leading to risk-taking behaviors,” said Guadalupe Sandoval, president of Sandoval Bilingual Safety Solutions of Sacramento.

Mr. Sandoval said, “Latinos are starving for information, and programs are needed to address the language gap, including incentives for learning English. Poor communication skills impact employees as well as supervisors. While immigrants are not familiar with U.S. regulations and safety programs, there are not enough bilingual supervisors with personnel management skills and knowledge to teach them. Some 92 percent of Latino workers say they need to know more about their supervisor’s expectations and 94 percent say they don’t know enough about how to do their jobs.”

When it comes to immigration, contracts, the Social Security documentation mismatch issue and other legalities affecting Latinos in the workplace, Latino worker perceptions must be the employer’s reality, said Michael Saqui, principal with the Saqui Law Group in Granite Bay. “Employers are afraid to communicate with Latino workers, much less in Spanish. Health and safety is not about rules and regulations, it’s about communication.”

Mr. Saqui said that creating a positive work environment for Latinos is good for business. “When morale is high, productivity and retention go up and accidents decline. To be an employer of choice, you have to change your behavior. Labor is not your best asset, it is your company and needs to be kept safe, be motivated, have respect and develop pride.”

Today the Latino population of Sonoma County is young. About 40 percent are under age 19 while fewer than 20 percent of whites are under age 19. The Employment Development Department predicts that by 2016 the county’s economy will grow by 28,000 new jobs. At the same time, the graduation rates of Latino students is increasing, and 18 percent complete coursework enabling them to enter four-year university programs.

“More education equals higher wages,” said Ben Stone, executive director of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board. “Yet there aren’t enough skilled workers. In a recent EDB HR survey, 66 percent of employers reported that skilled workers are hard to find. The greatest work force need is among employees with bachelor’s/associate degrees or technical certificates. However, Career Technical Education courses and teachers have declined 25 percent since 1997, and enrollment in CTE classes was down 30 percent. We must raise the bar to match workers to jobs through training and education.”

“Raising educational attainment among Latino students is an economic necessity. There are 24,258 Hispanic students enrolled in Sonoma County public schools, and 64 percent are not proficient in academic English,” according to Superintendent Dr. Carl Wong.

Keeping young Latinos out of gangs and in school is another challenge. “We have to reclaim our youth,” said Ernesto Olivares, Santa Rosa City Councilmember.

“Latino academic performance and graduation rates must be improved and role models changed from a focus on gang leaders to business leaders. Employers have to be willing to take a risk in hiring youth who want opportunities to change and start a new life.”

A variety of programs are under way to address these challenges, including the Aiming High tutoring program; the Math, Engineering, Science Achievement Program; Upward Bound and the Puente Program, supporting students preparing for college; Youth Build, a community action partnership and green housing initiative redirecting youth from gangs to non-gang activities; along with programs operated by the Workforce Investment Board and firms like PG&E.