Preparing Students of Color for the Future Workforce Lessons From Communities in Indiana and New Mexico Download the PDF here. When it comes to readying students for the jobs of the future, America’s K-12 education system too often does not sufficiently prepare Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students. Research has shown that this negatively affects these students’ life outcomes, specifically in terms of their long-term career prospects and economic security. 1 For example, Black, Latinx and Indigenous people are currently underrepresented in high-wage jobs but overrepresented in low-wage work and among the unemployed. 2 This is particularly significant because unemployment for low-wage workers—who are overrepresented as service industry essential workers—has soared during the coronavirus pandemic.