Apple Inc. NASDAQ:AAPL released a report on Tuesday, August 12th with data on the demographic characteristics of its U.S. employees. Not surprisingly, this long-awaited “diversity report” makes it clear that Apple’s workforce, like most major tech companies, is dominated by white males.
Apple CEO Tim Cook of course tried to put as much of a positive spin as possible on the report, emphasizing the progress the company has already made creating a more diverse workforce, and the steps it is taking today to accelerate the process.
According to the report, the firm employs around 98,000 globally, and 70% of Apple’s workforce is male. Among the firm’s U.S. workforce, 55% of employees are white, followed by 15% Asian, 11% Hispanic, and 7% black. No ethnic/racial information was provided regarding international employees.
Statement from Apple CEO Tim Cook
The best way to deal with a serious PR problem is to own up to it and promise to do better in the future, which is exactly what Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim cook did in a letter to employees accompanying the report. “Let me say up front: As CEO, I’m not satisfied with the numbers on this page,” Cook wrote in a note that accompanied the report. “They’re not new to us and we’ve been working hard for quite some time to improve them. We are making progress, and we’re committed to being as innovative in advancing diversity ad we are in developing our products.”
“All around the world, our team at Apple Inc. NASDAQ:AAPL is united in the belief that being different makes us better,” Cook continued in his letter. “We know that each generation has a responsibility to build upon the gains of the past, expanding the rights and freedoms we enjoy to the many who are still striving for justice.”
Non-tech and tech employees ethnic breakdown
When you break down Apple Inc. NASDAQ:AAPL’s non-tech U.S. employees, it turns out 56% are white and 14% are Hispanic, followed by 9% Asian and 9% black. U.S. employees hired in technology-related positions are 54% white, 23% Asian, 7% Hispanic and 6% black.
Details on executive employees
When you examine the diversity numbers in Apple’s U.S. executive ranks, the disparity is even greater. More than 64% of Apple’s execs in America are white, around 21% are Asian, 6% are Hispanic and just 3 percent are black.
