As technology reshapes the workforce, Black communities risk being left behind. We can't afford to ignore it.

The robots aren’t just coming—they’re here. Self-checkout lines have become standard at grocery stores, chatbots are replacing customer service representatives, and driverless cars are inching their way onto city streets. While automation promises efficiency and cost savings for companies, it also brings a harsh reality: millions of jobs are on the line, and Black communities are disproportionately at risk.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation is projected to impact 20-25% of all jobs in the United States by 2030, according to a 2023 McKinsey report. For Black workers, the numbers are even more alarming. A 2024 study by the Brookings Institution found that Black Americans are 40% more likely than their white counterparts to be employed in jobs that are at high risk of automation. This includes retail, transportation, and food services roles—fields where machines most easily replace routine tasks.

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) echoes these concerns, pointing out that Black workers are overrepresented in low-wage positions that are rapidly being phased out by technology. Approximately 24% of Black workers are employed in administrative, production, and service roles that automation threatens to eliminate. With fewer resources to upskill or transition into tech-driven industries, the community faces a looming crisis of economic displacement.

One critical barrier to Black workers transitioning into tech-resilient jobs is access to education and training. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 8% of Black students earn degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, compared to 20% of White students. This gap is exacerbated by disparities in access to technology and high-quality education in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

Programs like Black Girls Code and Code2040 are working to bridge this divide, but the scale of the challenge remains daunting. Without significant investment in tech training and STEM education, the economic gap is poised to widen as automation advances.

The threat of automation is not occurring in isolation; it is building upon centuries of systemic inequities. Black Americans have long been denied access to generational wealth-building opportunities, from redlining and housing discrimination to wage gaps and job segregation. The introduction of automation without a safety net threatens to entrench these disparities further.

In 2023, the National Urban League released its annual "State of Black America" report, highlighting the risk of a "new digital divide" where Black workers are excluded not just from jobs but from the industries of the future. Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League, stated, "We are on the brink of a new economic segregation—one where algorithms and automation create walls of opportunity that are nearly impossible to scale."

What Needs to Change

To prevent automation from deepening economic divides, policymakers must prioritize equitable access to technology training, support for community-based tech initiatives, and incentives for companies that invest in diverse workforces. Some strategies include engaging federal and state governments to increase funding for STEM programs in Black communities, with targeted scholarships and grants.

A Call to Action

Ignoring the automation wave will only further isolate Black communities from economic opportunity. This isn't just about jobs—it’s about the future of wealth and stability for millions of Black families. The technology revolution is here, but whether it becomes a tool for progress or a mechanism of exclusion depends entirely on how we respond.

If we are to avoid a new era of digital segregation, we must demand equitable access to the opportunities of tomorrow today.