To: From: Sent: Subject:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] The Washington Post Mon 12/4/2017 5:28:02 PM Federal Insider: Mostly white male tech sector needs government help on diversity
Mostly white male tech sector needs government help on diversity
By Joe Davidson
Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.) in 2016. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)
The technology sector is the vanguard of innovation, but it still looks like a
good or boys network................
................
.....................................
Not only is it made up overwhelmingly of white men, but the percentage of
tech workers who are black decreased in recent years, while the portion of
women in the industry was stagnant and the level of Hispanic workers was
nearly flat.
A new report by Washington's chief watchdog says federal agencies can help
change that by doing more to diversify the technology sector.
That sector, like many others, clearly needs help. BsirOBlblbvmMhidO frcO20O^
Accountability Office (GAO) study found that the percentage of black workers
Movement of women stood still at 22 percent. Hispanic percentages were down and up, but not significantly, hovering around 7.5. Asian workers were the only group making significant progress, moving from 11.5 percent of the technology workforce in 2007 to 15 percent eight years later. White workers, as always, maintained an overwhelming advantage with about 7 in 10 technology jobs, although decreasing from 71.2 percent to 67.7 percent during the 2007-2015 period. Compared to their portion of the general population, about 31 percent, white men are vastly overrepresented in the
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000344-00001
The reportreleased Thursday was requested two years ago after "reviewing the startling lack of racial and gender diversity and the many documented reports of the hostile racial and gender environment in the tech sector," said a statement from Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Va.), the ranking Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. "The fact is there is bias in the recruitment, hiring and retention of Black, Hispanic and women workers in the tech sector. Decades of research show diversity is good for innovation and for the economic bottom line. Diversity and inclusion must not be treated as an aspiration; it is the law." Both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) have a "mission ... to combat discrimination and support equal employment opportunity for U.S. workers," GAO said. Here's the but: "Weaknesses in their processes impact the effectiveness of their efforts." That's government blather for they're not getting the job done. Both agencies "have taken steps to enforce equal employment and affirmative action requirements in the technology sector, but face limitations," according to GAO. "While EEOC has identified barriers to recruitment and hiring in the technology sector as a strategic priority, when EEOC conducts investigations, it does not systematically record the type of industry" and other information "that could be used to more effectively focus its limited enforcement resources and outreach activities." Federal contract compliance regulations allow companies to lump together people who are not white for reporting purposes. I think that's pretending everyone who is not white is just one other color, the "of color" race. "Regulations do not require federal contractors to disaggregate data for the purpose of determining placement goals for hiring," in GAO's words. This could hinder contractor "efforts to implement effective AAPs (affirmative action programs), which are designed to assist the company in achieving a workforce that reflects the gender, racial and ethnic profile of the labor pools from which the contractor recruits and selects." There are several reasons for the low representation of blacks, Hispanics and women in the tech sector. "These include the lower diversity of degree earners in technology-related fields, and company-based factors such as hiring practices and retention of women and underrepresented minorities," GAO said. "Two researchers told us that women often have the academic preparation to enter into technology-related degree programs, but they may choose not to pursue such degrees because of instances of gender bias within technology
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000344-00002
G^'^ii^gHiare^Dteappont^g)bi$tunztesithHtehn^
MtierfteM I^IMO4tfe0hdhmamafdl^^gi#Bional StaticttiatilmmG) versify
cfogd eeirtfcpcsiWmst at Hna^dfrnatentharem imjosart-dilnat
toh^Bsfetiefaetecto ^iteK^aartntent^siailitLi(D6/^^
ite testearch
ffu^ptfy.'has gone from making some progress toward losing ground."
A statement from Scott's office said the report "confirms that the glass ceiling for women and people of color has yet to be cracked within the leading technology companies. ... Moreover, in the past decade, within the leading technology companies, Black workers have actually tost ground across the spectrum of jobs from senior management to mid-level management to professionals to technicians." Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), co-chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Diversity Task Force, sounded pessimistic, but determined, when she warned: "By 2020, 1.4 million new jobs will be available in the tech industry. If current trends persist, communities of color will continue to be locked out of these opportunities. "That simply must change." Read More: [Hill's workplace rights agency points to Congress for lack of transparency] [Appeals agency backlog reflects Trump's foot-dragging on appointments, hindering services] [Court rejects ouster of No. 2 leader from largest federal union]
More from Federal Insider PowerPost Perspective
Hill's workplace rights.agency pcmh; to Congress for lack of transparency
The congressional Office of Compliance was largely unknown before the current tsunami of sexual misconduct allegations hit Congress By Joe Davidson | Columnist Read more
Recommended for you
' *alth 202
Your daily guide to Washington's health care debate.
Sign Up
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000344-00003
Share Federal insider: _ Click here to view in your browser.
click here. privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us
for help.
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000344-00004