Intel says its employee diversity efforts are paying off
Intel vowed to increase the diversity of its workforce earlier this year, and there are signs that it's already making good on that promise. The chip designer has published a mid-year diversity report which shows that it's not only hiring more women and minorities, but that the overall representation is improving. About 43.3 of its new American hires this year are from these underrepresented groups (higher than the 40 percent goal for 2015), and their ratios are higher both among executives and the rank-and-file. At first glance, strategies such as referral bonuses, pay equity audits and support groups are paying off.
However, Intel isn't going to be running a victory lap any time soon. It's still far from its goal of truly proportionate US representation by 2020, and the study notes that representation of some groups actually decreased, particularly among entry-level staff and Hispanic technical workers. The company is also quick to admit that it needs more educational efforts to foster a broader interest in technology careers. All the same, this is an important step forward for a company that was caving in to pressure from the anti-diversity camp just months ago.
