For years, the tech industry has propagated notions encouraging diversity and inclusion within its workforce. Despite this, both statistical and anecdotal findings alike report that the industry is inaccessible to minority professionals, specifically those who are Black.
This has proven to be a prevalent issue. According to a recent study, it was found that only 4% of top earners in the tech sector are Black, compared to an average of 6% in other industries (a 50% difference). Software developers, who have seen a notably high-income growth over recent years, have a rate of Black representation that stands at just 3.3%. This disparity is visible, problematic and counterproductive to efforts to support the Black tech community and likewise close the ever-growing racial wealth gap.
Furthermore, this specific demographic of the tech industry is seen to be partially responsible for the magnification of this crisis.
In 2010, Black males earned 18% less than white men in comparison to other races and ethnicities, but this gap increased to 24% by 2019. This is considered to be largely due to an increased underrepresentation of Black workers in industries and occupations which are considered high-paying such as tech, according to the Conference Board report.
Therefore, disparities of equal employment within the tech sector are massively related to the overall status of the racial wealth gap and are a pivotal focus point in the conversation of closing it.
This is nothing new; the data has been consistent for decades with little to no significant changes in any direction. The problem remains clear, but so does current efforts' lack of success in providing a solution.
It is important to understand why even today industries fail to attract up and coming Black tech professionals, despite massive campaigns and some progress. Here, we'll go through some of the most prevalent barriers.
1. Interviewing
Getting an interview is one of the most crucial steps in the employment process. For Black tech professionals, this is a pivotal period that not only determines potential opportunities but also shapes their experience prior to even being able to meet their prospective company.
While a promising opportunity to all, it is not one that is distributed equally nor fairly. The current state of affairs in this regard is one that has shown little improvement over the years, with studies conducted decades apart offering similar results.
A study from two decades ago revealed that individuals with "Black-sounding" names were less likely to hear back from employers for interviews. Despite a surge in unconscious bias training and diversity initiatives, things were found to have stayed largely the same in a similar study conducted over 18 years later.
· Report 1
· Report 2
2. Job Offers
Getting a job offer is an accomplishment, but not one that is shared. For Black tech professionals, this step is associated with a set of experiences that often signify employment discrimination. It's no secret that education, skills, and employment experience are critical determinants of job and salary in the United States. In fact, the growing inequality in earnings that we have witnessed over the last several decades is largely attributable to various forms of “human capital” disparities across racial and socioeconomic groups.
This can prove to be a massive hindrance to the prosperity of the Black tech workforce, as systemic disadvantages pertaining to education can directly deny opportunities for employment in this way. Even worse, these employment gaps which are involved as soon as someone enters the labor market further worsen this issue by resulting in disproportionately lower rates of employment experience for Black professionals to build upon.
3. Poor Opportunities For Networking
Networking is an essential part of career success. It often makes or breaks one's ability to find new opportunities and to likewise navigate the professional landscape. For most Black tech professionals, however, this is something of great privilege. The main problem in this regard is a lack of connections.
With an inherently less diverse workforce comes a lessened opportunity for minorities to interact with other professionals who share similar experiences and understandings to them, therefore making it more difficult to build professional connections as a result. This issue is simply a symptom of the greater problem at hand.
4. Lack Of Fair Hiring Processes
A less fair employment system also makes it more difficult for Black tech professionals to find work, especially those who are early in their careers.
For Black tech professionals, first-time tech jobs and related experience are the centerpieces to long-term career opportunities and valid points of reference down the road. Attaining these positions, however, is a whole other story. Societal biases and inequities often place Black tech professionals at a disadvantage right out of the starting gate, with discrimination often being present either consciously or subconsciously within the hiring process.
An implementation of blind recruiting and other equal opportunity approaches is thought to be a potential solution in this regard. Blind recruiting eliminates biases by removing information such as name, gender, religion, and economic status from the talent acquisition process. While extremely promising, it has been implemented at very low rates, making it more difficult for minorities to find early career opportunities which follow this protocol and give them a fairer chance of moving forward.
5. Poor Preparation From Boot Camps
While many tech Boot Camps are designed to target marginalized populations and provide them with accessible education and a pathway into the industry, most fall short of effectively delivering results to the black tech community. Poor job placement services are one point of blame. A lack of alignment with employers and hiring managers leaves many Black students on their own to find a job. Similarly, non-inclusive curriculums often result in an environment where minority students feel out of place and unable to compete with others within the program who don’t look like them. This can sometimes cause under preparation for those who opt for Boot Camps in hopes of substituting it for work experience or institutionalized education they have not had the opportunity to enjoy.
While awareness is a great first step, it is important to understand that these issues are multi-faceted and require a systematic change to be addressed. This is particularly true for industry-wide problems, which require a collaborative effort to successfully overcome. What's important in regulating this disparity directly relates to what the industry can collectively do about it. This starts with addressing the gaps in the onboarding process, as well as a consideration of the educational and experiential barriers many Black tech professionals face when entering the workforce.