The diversity of the high tech workforce has “barely changed in a generation” — and discrimination may be contributing to that stagnation, according to one federal official.
Between 2005 and 2022, there was little change in the representation of Black workers and almost no change in the representation of female workers in the high tech workforce, according to a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission report released Wednesday. And workers over age 40 lost ground in the last decade.
EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows called those disparities troubling; diversity is not only important to ensure that all workers have strong economic opportunities, she said during a press conference, “but it’s also important so that this sector, which has such significance for all of our lives, can tap all of the nation’s talents and also create products that meet the needs of everyone in this amazing and diverse country.”
Notably, the agency also said its charge data shows certain types of discrimination are a significant problem in the industry. Claims alleging age, pay and genetic information discrimination are more common in the high tech sector than in other sectors, according to the report.
The minimal improvements in diversity combined with the charge data “really suggest that discrimination may be contributing to the relatively low employment of women, Black workers, Hispanic workers and older workers,” Burrows said.
She suggested employers focus on nondiscrimination and work to remove barriers through lawful DEI efforts. EEOC will continue to focus on the industry and support employers that want assistance in addressing barriers, Burrows said, “and of course, where necessary, we’ll bring enforcement actions.”