Silicon Valley's diversity secret

As Speed Matters reported in late 2011, major Silicon Valley tech firms were less than forthcoming with diversity data among their ranks. San Jose Mercury News reporter Mike Swift had been trying since 2008 to get a full picture of the racial makeup of the Valley, but had been stymied by most of the companies.

Recently, CNN Money had tried to follow up on Swift's investigation and reported that they had no better luck than the Mercury News had. Of the 20 top U. S. tech firms, only Intel, Dell and Ingram Micro willingly provided the figures.

A number of the firms - including Apple, Google and HP - claimed to the U.S. Department of Labor that airing their diversity data would weaken their competitive standing, and the department agreed.

CNN Money quoted University of the Pacific law professor John Sims who said that the companies' claims were specious.

"Knowing how many white male sales workers a company has is a trade secret? Absurd."  Later, he commented that "Tech is the most vibrant sector of the American economy, and rather than trying to fix problems, they want to keep secrets."

Intel broke with its Silicon Valley neighbors on the issue saying, "... we need to get beyond our fears that the numbers are a poor reflection on our individual organizations and work together to address the issue collectively."

Speed Matters supports a just diversity in the workforce and urges tech firms to use their financial clout to bring all minorities - as well as women - into this vital sector.

Silicon Valley Tries To Keep Diversity Figures Secret (Speed Matters, Nov. 15, 2011)

Apple, Google, HP and other tech giants again refuse to release workplace diversity data (siliconvalley.com, Mar. 18, 2013)