ATLAS
of future-oriented jobs
What and where are they?
The case of Latin America and the Caribbean
In the region, only
of jobs qualify as future-oriented jobs
Raising awareness about the impact of ongoing megatrends on jobs is key for evaluating the future readiness of our labor market
Explore the map for detailed insights by country
Note: The data for Argentina only covers the urban population.
A world shaped by profound technological, climate, and demographic changes drives opportunities for some occupations while putting others at risk. In this context, a new cross-cutting dimension for evaluating the 21st-century labor market emerges: job resilience. Future-oriented jobs are those that grow in relevance and offer new opportunities in constantly evolving environments.
Which are the future-oriented jobs and where are they located? Three occupational segments stand out: STEM jobs, green jobs, care jobs.
Key data on these occupational segments
75%
4%
7%
of the future-oriented jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean are in the care economy, a segment with great potential but facing challenges associated with precarious working conditions, especially in the sphere of personal care and domestic work.
of workers in the region are employed in STEM occupations, a highly skilled segment associated with advanced scientific-technological matrices. This is less than half the level of developed countries.
of the Latin America and Caribbean labor market consist of green jobs, 3 percentage points less than in high-income countries. Green jobs represent the second largest segment of jobs enhanced by megatrends in the region, but many are threatened by automation trends.
At the same time, 6 out of 10 people in the region are employed in jobs threatened by automation technologies or climate change
55% of jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean are exposed to automation risk, which primarily affects roles involving many repetitive tasks.
12% of workers in the region are in jobs vulnerable to climate change.
5% of the labor force is in the critical position of being simultaneously exposed to both technological and climate risks.
Challenges faced by men differ from those faced by women
For women, challenges are more related to diversification and quality. 90% of the future jobs they hold are concentrated in the care sector, with half of them in personal care and domestic work, segments characterized by high informality and low wages.
9 out of 10 of the future-oriented jobs held by men are high-skilled occupations, but only 10% of male employment qualifies as such. Additionaly, men are more exposed to threats like automation and climate change than women.
And the challenges in the region are not the same as those in high-income countries
In the region, future-oriented jobs are primarily concentrated in lower-skilled segments. In high-income countries, 84% of future-oriented jobs are high-skilled, compared to 68% in the region.
The reason? The low incidence of Latin American employment in STEM and high-skilled green jobs, coupled with the prevalence of medium and low-skilled care work among women.
Designing a strategy focused on promoting resilient jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean requires increasing not only the number of jobs that remain relevant but also improving their quality in terms of working conditions, professionalization, and inclusivity. At the same time, it is essential to consolidate policies that facilitate the transition from vulnerable jobs to those with better prospects.