Psychology of Working Theory (PWT) has recently gained empirical support; however, its assumptions have yet to be tested for cultural responsiveness in Latinx communities, one of the fastest-growing worker populations in the U.S. The current study had two major aims: (a) to translate and validate instruments measuring PWT constructs from English into Spanish, and (b) to test theorized PWT predictors of decent work in a sample of Latinx workers ( N = 287). First, we translated and validated instruments measuring economic constraints, lifetime marginalization, work volition, and decent work using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). We then tested a structural model predicting decent work. Results partially supported PWT hypotheses, suggesting its utility and cultural responsiveness in studying the work patterns and conditions in Latinx communities. Practical implications are discussed.

With a growing Latinx workforce in the U.S., many of whom are Spanish-speaking, there is a pressing need to examine key constructs related to vocational well-being in this population. The aim of the current study was to validate a Spanish language version of the Work Needs Satisfaction Scales (WNSS; Autin et al., 2019 ). The WNSS comprises a set of scales developed to measure satisfaction of survival, social contribution, autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs, all of which are theorized to be key mediators in the link from decent work to well-being and work fulfillment. Using cross-sectional data across two samples of Latinx workers, we tested the reliability and validity of a Spanish language version of the WNSS (WNSS-SV). In Study 1 we conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with a sample of 195 participants. This resulted in a 19-item scale with five factors mirroring those of the English language scale. In Study 2 ( N = 377), we examined factor structure and model fit using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); measurement invariance across gender, language, and social class group; and concurrent validity. Results from Study 2 demonstrated the model was a good fit to the data; showed concurrent validity; and provided support for measurement invariance. Thus, overall results indicated that the WNSS-SV may serve as a useful tool for future research on work-related need satisfaction among Latinx workers. A discussion regarding the importance of these findings and implications for practice and research are provided.

T he United States is home to the world's largest immigrant and refugee population, with one fifth of the world's migrant people residing there. In 2018, 44.8 million immigrants made up 13.7% of the U.S. population (Budiman, 2020). Immigrant people make up a large proportion-about 17%-of the U.S. labor force. Projections indicate that this number will grow, driving national economic growth as the U.S.-born workforce dwindles with increasing baby boomer retirement (Budiman, 2020). People migrate to the United States for a variety of reasons (e.g., to be with family, to seek education), but the most common among them in recent years is to obtain work (USA Facts, 2020). Therefore, career psychologists have an important role that may benefit both the national labor market and the growing migrant population. In the present chapter, we present a set of seven practical recommendations for career psychologists and allied providers, which are grounded on a review of the literature on factors affecting immigrant workers. These recommendations include (a) becoming familiar with frameworks and cultural competencies prior to providing career services to immigrants; (b) exploring the pre-, during, and postmigration experience; (c) assessing and discussing immigrants' unique educational and career experiences; (d) assessing immigrants' career-related barriers; (e) assessing immigrants' cultural strengths; (f) providing culturally relevant career intervention; and (g) engaging in social justice advocacy.