Some time ago, I talked about Google’s lack of employee diversity and what’s being done about it. There’s another Internet company facing the same dilemma.
According to Linkedin’s own reports, their diversity report card is probably worse than Google’s. Less than 40% of their employees are women. As far as ethnic breakdown is concerned, just two percent of it’s employees are African Americans and four percent are Hispanic. The only up side is 38% of their labor force is Asian. The gender component is global, from California to Brazil. The racial/ethnic component is limited to the US. Admittance to this problem is the first step. What are they going to do about it?
Like Google, they’re combating this lack on many fronts. They’ve partnered with Year Up, a wonderful organization that helps young, talented, people from underprivileged neighborhoods reach their dream profession, including computer technology and Internet/social media. They’ve also partnered with the Anita Borg Institute. They’re known for getting women into computing fields. They’ve teamed up with other organizations as well. But I still say it’s not jut Linkedin’s problem, but it’s America. These are great steps to take. But we need everyone, from schools to community activists to parents to employers to equip this next generation for an ever increasing technological world, especially in African-American and Latino neighborhoods. What are your suggestions?