There’s no question that the companies currently practicing diversity recruiting and hiring minorities are seeing tremendous benefits within their businesses. Multicultural recruiting practices lead to a more diverse workforce, which better fosters the kind of innovative thinking that’s critical to thriving in today’s global economy. Yet, there are still a number of notable industries where diversity remains sorely lacking.
Best: Communications
Companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are all mentioned among the best businesses of 2013 by HispanicBusiness.com for their diversity in the workplace. The list is determined based on five different categories, including recruitment efforts, of course, but also looking at promotion and retention, community outreach, leadership and diversity among suppliers. The rankings take into account company policies toward all minorities.
Improving: Banking
A report released by the NAACP said that despite a projected 1 million jobs being added over the next decade in the banking industry, top management positions are still by and large held by white employees. Programs to develop diversity have been in place for the past 20 years, yet carrying these through into a workplace reality remains a struggle. On the positive side, an increasing number of minorities are graduating with degrees related to banking, accounting and finance, so diversity programs at the education program are showing a high level of success. This could mean it’s just a matter of time before banking becomes a more culturally varied industry.
Floundering: Tech
The tech industry might be one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative fields today, but only for a small segment of the population. Rev. Jesse Jackson recently spoke out against the lack of diversity in the tech industry, where only 1 in 14 employees is African American or Latino. The tech industry has also been widely criticized for its ageism, showing a clear preference for younger hires and encouraging older workers toward early retirement.
Worst: Hollywood
While it seems like the entertainment industry shows a variety of colors, lifestyles, shapes and sizes on the big and little screens, the behind-the-scenes reality is much different. Gawker explains how script writers are by and large white males, and the first female to win an Oscar for Best Director didn’t happen until Kathryn Bigelow’s 2009 film The Hurt Locker. Even worse, only four female directors have ever been nominated for Best Director in over 80 years of awards ceremonies. There’s no question that Hollywood is diversity-challenged at best.
What Does the Future Hold?
According to a study from the Center for American Progress, people of color accounted for 36 percent of the labor force in June 2012. Yet, census data shows that by 2050, no single ethnic or racial group will hold a majority. It’s clear that many industries need to change the way they do business if they want to remain relevant into this multicultural future.
Kw: diversity, diversity recruiting, hiring minorities, diverse workforce
Posted By: Stacie Coulter
Friday, January 9th 2015 at 3:11PM
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