LOS ANGELES, California — The 20th century gave birth to the computer, the internet, vaccines and many more unprecedented technological marvels. Technology in the 21st century is advancing at a rate 10 to 50 times faster than in the previous century. Artificial intelligence will be one of the key drivers of both technological advancement and job displacement.

A 2013 Oxford study estimated that AI could automate 47% of U.S. jobs over the following two decades. Concerns have decreased since the early estimates, but AI is still expected to significantly reshape how the world conducts business. Employers expect that “39% of key skills required in the job market will change by 2030.” Here is how the organization Laboratoria is educating underserved women in South American so that they can participate in the digital future.

Artificial Intelligence in Latin America

Latin America and South America are in particularly precarious positions. Wealth disparity in these regions varies widely and education is heavily divided by socioeconomic background. This creates a complex issue, as governments must determine how best to educate both students and displaced workers with the skills to adapt to the new digital ecosystem.

Women in the region face an even greater threat. A recent study by GenAI estimated that women in South America and Latin America are twice as likely to be displaced by automation.

Laboratoria and Its Mission

Laboratoria is a nonprofit based in Peru that educates underserved women in South America to succeed in the upcoming digital labor market. Its curriculum incorporates both the technological skills needed for the future and career guidance to ensure students continue to grow. Beginning as a coding boot camp in 2014, its approach to education remains fluid, constantly evolving with the technological skills necessary.

Laboratoria provides a clear example of how governments and organizations can continually adapt to the rapidly accelerating world of technology. Laboratoria started out of necessity. While running a web development agency in Lima, co-founders Marina Costa Checha, Rodulfo Pietro and Regina Acher found themselves struggling to find adequate talent.

A surge in demand for coders opened the space to those without higher education, but workers still needed the skill set to excel at the job. Forced into a difficult situation, they stumbled upon something that would change their lives and the lives of more than 10,000 underserved women in South America. They elected to train their own talent. Starting with a small cohort of 15 women, they began teaching them to code.

Women represented fewer than 10% of developers at the time. Hampered by a lack of opportunities and decades of gender stereotypes, there was a massive pool of underutilized talent just beneath the surface. These women would quickly become employable for jobs that would vastly increase their earning potential.

Laboratoria’s approach incorporated both the corporation’s needs and those of the workers. Laboratoria launched in Mexico and Chile in 2015. Currently, Laboratoria educates underserved women in 11 countries across South America.

Laboratoria’s Work and the Economy of South America

The economy of South America stands to gain significant benefits from achieving gender parity. In an interview with The Borgen Project, Gabriella Rocha, the co-founder and CEO or Laboratoria said, “Forty-eight million women across the region are unemployed or underemployed despite having the talent and drive to contribute meaningfully to the economy.”

She continued, “But we know that when women work, economies grow. Closing the gender gap could increase GDP in our region by up to 34%. And with digital jobs growing 25% by 2030, companies urgently need talent with exactly the skills and adaptability this underutilized pool of talent can bring. Families, workplaces and the broader economy all stand to benefit.”

Staying Adaptable in a Rapidly Shifting Technological Landscape

Laboratoria began as a coding boot camp. At the time, learning to code “provided the clearest path to upward mobility,” but times have changed. The demand for programmers has significantly diminished, particularly for those seeking entry-level roles.

Artificial intelligence is learning to code fast. In just one year, the ability of AI systems to solve coding problems has increased to 71.7% in 2024 based on the SWE-Bench. As of September 2025, entry-level software developers were experiencing a 20% decrease in job opportunities since the highs approximately three years prior.

This can be attributed to AI’s proficiency in skills that require “book learning.” While well-versed in technical knowledge, new graduates lack the real-world experience that is more difficult for AI to imitate. Artificial intelligence is most symbiotic with the labor market when it augments skills. Recent findings have concluded that professions where AI was used to complement entry-level workers have not experienced the same decline in job opportunities.

Laboratoria’s Shift Toward Digital Fluency

The paradigm has shifted since Laboratoria’s infancy. Coding is no longer the golden ticket it once was, so Laboratoria has evolved to stay true to its mission. The current curriculum focuses on digital fluency, utilizing three core tenets: employability coaching, skill development and social capital. It aims to teach students how to adapt to the shifting demands of the labor market.

Employability coaching develops soft skills intended not only for the job search and hiring process but also to help students formulate an authentic core identity for their professional endeavors. Skill development integrates digital platforms and AI to create a flexible knowledge base that is applicable across various industries. AI is introduced organically into the curriculum to lower the barrier of entry, with tools introduced across a variety of subjects.

Students then have the option to delve deeper with an AI fundamentals course. The curriculum not only familiarizes students with AI systems but also builds “higher-order” skills, such as problem-solving and analytical thinking, which will become increasingly necessary in a more AI-capable world.

Interview With Jessica Esparza

Social capital is the network of connections that underserved women in South America often lack. Laboratoria builds a network of alumni, classmates, mentors and industry partners to sustain student success long after graduation. In addition to Rocha, The Borgen Project spoke with Jessica Esparza, a member of Laboratoria’s 2024 cohort.

After earning a university degree, Esparza struggled to gain a foothold in the professional world. Her parents had funded her education with the hope that it would open doors that were previously unavailable to them. She spoke about her experience seeking jobs after graduating from Laboratoria.

“Laboratoria changed my life because it gave me a series of tools that I didn’t have before. I learned how to focus my efforts, recognize the value of my profile and present myself with greater confidence. I even turned down certain opportunities because I realized I could aim higher. The program coordinators guided me through every application process, offering valuable insights to help me keep improving.”

She continued, “Professional success isn’t just about technical knowledge, networks or charisma. It’s about knowing yourself and being able to communicate your hard-earned skills with authenticity and clarity. Without Laboratoria, I wouldn’t have been able to fully grasp and apply this lesson.”

Final Remarks

In a business world that often feels more robotic, Laboratoria takes a humanistic approach. It teaches the skills that are not easily acquired through “book learning.” Laboratoria’s approach to AI issues is holistic. The demographic it has selected, underserved women in South America, is viewed from the perspectives of the worker, the corporation and society as a whole.

Laboratoria identifies candidates who need its help and can provide value to businesses and the broader economy. Laboratoria’s focus is not just on knowledge acquisition but on adaptability. This trait is thoroughly ingrained in the DNA of humanity.

The organization looks to the horizon, ensuring its students are capable in both the modern world and a future of unseen technological marvels.

– Patrick Feeney

Patrick is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Image: Unsplash

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