Internet Association Releases Report on Diversity in Tech Following Cleaver's Calls For Greater Diversity
(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, the Internet Association (IA) released their inaugural "Diversity & Inclusion Benchmark Report" following Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II's (D-MO) calls for greater diversity in the tech industry and discussions with the IA. The report is the association's first industry-wide survey of data regarding diversity within their workforce, and will provide a reference point for diversity workforce data moving forward. The IA represents over 40 of the world's leading internet companies, including behemoths such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google.
"The lack of diversity in the tech industry remains a concerning issue," said Congressman Cleaver. "We know that without the perspective, opinions, and life experiences of people from all walks of life, we open the door to subconscious or unintentional biases that can negatively affect products and services used by Americans. Creating the broad changes necessary to promote greater workforce diversity, something I've been actively pushing for in Congress, requires a baseline set of data. I applaud the Internet Association's willingness to take on this endeavor, as well as their eagerness to engage with policymakers and industry stakeholders to create this report."
Congressman Cleaver has been a key leader in Congress pushing for greater diversity in the tech industry. In November of last year, Congressman Cleaver and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) sent a letter to the IA demanding accountability and calling for greater efforts to diversify their workforce. In January of this year, following much discussion with Cleaver and Watson Coleman, the IA announced it would create a new position within the organization to work specifically on diversity and inclusion workforce policies. This hire led the efforts to generate the Diversity & Inclusion Benchmark Report, which will be used as a baseline set of data to determine how much progress is being made by the internet industry moving forward in regards to workforce diversity. Also, in June of this year, Congressman Cleaver led a letter, along with Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), inquiring into the diversity policies and practices of Big Tech companies when hiring outside legal counsel. Yesterday, Congressman Cleaver hosted a panel discussion on the lack of diversity in the legal profession with multiple industry leading tech companies speaking to some of the policies and practices they would like to implement industry-wide.
The IA's Diversity & Inclusion Benchmark Report found:
- 60% of companies within the IA release public data regarding their workforce
- Only 22% of companies track their spending on third-party vendors
- The percentage of women tech workers remained the same from 2005-2015 at 22%
- The percentage of underrepresented groups slightly increased from 2005-2015 from 26% to 33%
- Internet companies with dedicated Diversity & Inclusion budgets have a higher representation of women and underrepresented groups.
- 56% of responding regularly recruit from HBCU's, HSI's, and predominantly minority-serving institutions.
"The data released in this inaugural report demonstrate that more needs to be done," Congressman Cleaver said. "I'm hopeful that companies will offer a serious look at the data and take this opportunity to implement diversity and inclusion best practices, which strengthen the industry as a whole. This is an important step in a larger effort to create a more inclusive environment in the tech industry, and I look forward to future engagement."
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matthew Helfant at 202-225-4535 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.
