Workforce Diversity

Inclusive regions prosper. According to a new ACCE commissioned report, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY: An Imperative for Chambers of Commerce (Feb. 2017), cities and regions that embrace diversity do better economically. The report outlines the business case for why chambers need a strategy to leverage diversity and champion inclusion.

Diversity in the workforce involves qualified employees from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, American Indians, people with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It is necessary to have a concerted diversity-recruiting effort for several reasons:

The U.S. labor pool is rapidly diversifying. By 2016, 70 percent of the workforce will be women and/or Black, Latino or Asian. By 2043, white people will be less than 50 percent of all Americans. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau)
That racially diverse labor pool is achieving high-school, college and advanced degrees at a higher growth rate than the general labor pool.
From 1990 to 2004, Asians and Latinos experienced a more than 80 percent increase in bachelor's and advanced degrees received, while Blacks increased receipt of advanced degrees by more than 30 percent and bachelor's degrees by 15 percent. Whites, on the other hand, experienced a decline in all degrees received. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
There are fewer entrants to the workforce predicted, which means the race for this talent pool will be even more competitive. Annual workforce growth is expected to start declining in the next decade. (Future Works Institute)

Source: DiversityInc.com

Resources on Workforce Diversity

HR Succession Planning: Workforce Diversity - Learn about UC San Diego's plans to attract and develop a diversified workforce and its importance to strengthening talent management. (2014)
Advancing Economic Opportunities for Business Owners and Jobseekers with Disabilities: A Review of State and Municipal Government Contracting Procurement and Tax Incentive Programs for Disability-Owned Businesses - A report by Kathy Krepcio and Jui Agrawal, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. (2013)
List of organizations working to promote diversity from Workplace Diversity

Articles

High Hopes and Harsh Realities: The Real Challenges to Building a Diverse Teacher Workforce - From the Brookings Institution. Minority students make up nearly half of all public school students, yet minority teachers make up just 18 percent of the teacher workforce. Addressing this minority teacher shortfall must be a long-term policy goal. (August 2016)
Using Employee Engagement to Build a Diverse Workforce, by Rebecca Riffkin and Jim Harter, Gallup (March 21, 2016)
The Myriad Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace, by Kim Abreu, Entrepreneur (December 8, 2014)
Diversity Is Useless Without Inclusivity, by Christine M. Riordan, Harvard Business Review (June 5, 2014)
The Top 10 Economic Facts of Diversity in the Workplace: A Diverse Workforce Is Integral to a Strong Economy, by Sophia Kerby and Crosby Burns, American Progress (July 12, 2012)

Governmental Resources

Annual Report from the Minority Business Development Agency, an agency of the US Department of Commerce. This document includes information about MBDA's services and programs, progress in job creation both nationally and by region and state, as well as data about minority-owned businesses. (2014)
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Office of Diversity & Inclusion serves to provide Federal agencies concrete strategies and best practices to recruit, hire, include, develop, retain, engage and motivate a diverse, results-oriented, high-performing workforce. This Office provides reports, FAQ's, Reference Materials, and Workforce-at-a-Glance stats.