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Yahoo Also Kind of Sucks at Diversity

Following Google’s lead, tech companies have started to voluntarily reveal their self-reported diversity stats – basically showcasing the percentage of men vs. women and racial breakdown in th...
Yahoo Also Kind of Sucks at Diversity
Written by Josh Wolford
  • Following Google’s lead, tech companies have started to voluntarily reveal their self-reported diversity stats – basically showcasing the percentage of men vs. women and racial breakdown in their company demographics.

    The latest to do so is Yahoo who, despite being “committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce,” still kind of sucks at attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce.

    Yahoo reports that 62 percent of its workforce is made up of men, which leaves 37 percent to women (there was one percent who identified as other/non-disclosed). That’s better than Google, who recently reported that it is 70 percent male, and a tad worse than LinkedIn, who is made up of 61 percent men.

    What’s more telling about Yahoo’s diversity are the job-specific breakdowns. 85 percent of Yahoo’s tech force is male, and most importantly, 77 percent of leadership (VPs and above) are men. The only place women edge out men is in Yahoo’s non-tech sector.

    Yahoo’s ethnic diversity is also a small fraction better than Google’s, but still not great. Yahoo says that 50 percent of its total workforce is white, 39 percent is Asian, four percent is hispanic, and only two percent is black. For comparison, Google’s respective breakdown was 61%/30%/3%/2%.

    But once again, take at look at the leadership. At the top, Yahoo is 78 percent white, 17 percent Asian, and one percent black. Its tech sector is dominated by Asians, at 57 percent.

    While Google expressed self-disappointment when they released their diversity figures, Yahoo simply says that they are committed to growing a diverse background.

    “These statistics are only a part of the story – Yahoo works to ensure that our existing employees feel welcome and supported during their time at the company. We have a wide range of Employee Resource Groups that serve people of diverse backgrounds and are highly engaged in their respective communities. For example, Yahoo received a 100% Corporate Equality Index score and was named a “Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality,” said Yahoo Chief Development Officer Jackie Reses. “Overall, our goal at Yahoo is to create a workplace culture that attracts and retains all talents, regardless of background, and to help our people grow to their full potential.”

    Yahoo did hire a woman as CEO when they poached Marissa Mayer back in July of 2012. But reports like this one show that companies, and especially tech companies, still have a ways to go if they are committed to true workplace diversity.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

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