The mission of WTIA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center of Excellence is to lead and support the creation of anti-racist multicultural organizations where equity is deeply rooted and sustained in our workplaces and the communities we serve.
In 2020, WTIA established the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office to support anti-racism efforts in the tech industry. WTIA DEI Center of Excellence is led by Chief Diversity Officer Yolánda L. Chase, SHRM-SCP, CPM, CM. With 30+ years of experience in leading human resources and DEI functions in Fortune 500 companies, Yolánda leads her team and the Pact to define and accomplish strategic, time-bound, and measurable objectives.
By 2025, we aim to close hiring and retention disparities among professionals from underserved communities, with a particular focus on Black, indigenous, and Latino/x workers in tech.
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A 2018 PayScale analysis of payroll data shows that Native American, black and Hispanic tech workers make less than white workers. “The largest gap is for black workers, who earn $0.87 for every dollar earned by white tech workers.”
Recruitment and Hiring
According to the EEOC “Diversity in Tech Report,” the high tech sector employed a smaller share of Black Americans (14.4 percent to 7.4 percent), Hispanics (13.9 percent to 8 percent), and women (48 percent to 36 percent), when compared to the overall industry.
A Center for Employment Equity report shows that Black men represent only 3% of employees in tech firms, while Latino/x men represent only 5%.
A 2017 survey of tech workers reveals that improving workplace culture can improve retention. Kapor’s “Tech Leavers Study” found that 62% of all employees would have stayed if their company had taken steps to create a more positive and respectful work environment. 57% would have stayed if their company had taken steps to make the company culture more fair and inclusive.
A study of EEOC data referenced in the Harvard Business Review shows that compared to Blacks and Hispanics, Asians are less likely to be promoted from individual contributor roles to management ranks. This disparity is present in all industries, but even more pronounced in tech, finance, and healthcare industries, where Asians and Asian Americans make up a large share of the workforce.
Technology organizations are struggling to help translate D&I strategy into action. While D&I is a stated value or priority area for 77% of organizations, 39% of surveyed respondents still feel their individual diversity is a barrier to employee progression at their organization. (PWC, 2020)
