According to Google’s statistics on workforce diversity, 70% of their global employees are male. In the United States, where the company breaks down employee ethnicity, more than 90% of Googlers are either white or Asian. In tech-specific jobs and Google leadership that disparity is even greater.
The data comes from the company’s second annual diversity report, released today. It shows slight progress as Google (GOOGL) tries to be more inclusive both in hiring and in day-to-day workplace environment.
The report says that last year 21% of the tech-focused hires the company made were women.
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In addition, the report says black and Hispanic hiring growth outpaced overall hiring growth but those employees still make up only 2% and 3% of the workforce respectively.
Such progress is a start but still a long way from a solution.
“This is now no longer a demand problem,” says Yahoo Finance Columnist Rick Newman. “It’s a supply problem. I think this is a screaming message to minorities and young women - including my daughter who’s a sophomore in college - if you want to have a great career get into tech. “
Newman also points out that the country’s education system needs to go through some changes of its own, especially when it comes to teaching the skills these tech employees will need.
And while, as Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist Michael Santoli says, we can believe Google is genuine in its desire to change the diversity landscape, it may not be that simple.
“If the culture of Silicon Valley or these companies [doesn't make employees feel] like they’re welcoming, does it make it worth it to be that kind of pioneer,” Santoli asks. “Maybe not for a lot of women.”
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