Google shook up the technology world this week when it publicly disclosed its diversity statistics and admitted that there are opportunities for improvement. The 26, 000 employees that comprise its US workforce are 2 percent African American, 3 percent Latino and about 1/3 Asian. Based on census data, about 5 percent of African Americans and 8 percent of Latinos actually graduate with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees, which is likely what Google would be looking for.
Actually Intel, Cisco and HP make public their diversity statistics (representation) in their Corporate Social Responsibility Reports.
The issue with diversity in technology is complex. This is the fastest growing area in our economy and there has been much written that we need more STEM qualified workers in general. The science and math disciplines have not historically attracted large numbers of women and people of color and there are numerous efforts underway both public and private, to correct these inequities. It will take time and continued concerted effort and Google is to be applauded for becoming more transparent and putting the spotlight on this continuing problem.
I would also question how culturally competent the interviewing processes might be at Google. I am not sure if there might be more opportunity for unconscious bias to interfere with good candidates being identified. Based on the census data reported above, there are more qualified individuals in the labor force that Google is attracting, so we must dig deeper to understand why. On the surface it would seem that Google would have no problem attracting talent, given its reputation as an open, flexible culture. I suspect we might find the issue both in the recruiting process and the culture.
