Intel has become a bit more diverse in 2015 after it increased recruitment of women and minorities. On Wednesday, in the Push Tech 2020 Summit, which is aimed at focusing on diversity issues in the IT industry, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich revealed that almost 41% of the new employees they hired this year were either women or minorities, such as Latinos, Native Americans or African Americans, etc.
Efforts showing results
Last year, the company’s hiring of diverse employees amounted to about 30%. Moreover, of the company’s total hires at senior ranks since January, almost 17% are minorities compared to 6% last year, while 33% are women, in contrast to 19% in 2014. Krzanich specified this increase as a sign of progress and stated that the company is “trying to do inside a corporation what society has tried to do for years.” The increase in diverse hiring was witnessed in all departments, including engineering, finance and human resources.
Launched earlier this year, Intel’s diversity program will see investments of $300 million by 2020. This is aimed at achieving a more diverse workforce, which is more symbolic of the community Intel serves with its services.
More efforts from Intel
Moreover, the chip maker is planning to spend $5 million on a project that will focus on teaching science and engineering to students at Oakland Unified School District in California. The five-year long initiative, which is expected to touch almost 2,400 students, will also contain an internship feature providing students with guaranteed jobs at the company.
Further, Intel is aiming to initiate a program in its venture capital segment to encourage diversity in technology. The chip maker is also holding meetings with other companies to generate more investment in the education sector. Intel’s diversity officer believes that if more companies could spend with Intel, it would be more beneficial. Since the announcement of its efforts towards increasing diversity at the workplace, the company has been tracking data regarding its hiring process. It also started to involve managers and other employees in its diversity-related programs.
Such programs by Intel are being announced at a time when the technology industry is facing massive criticism owing to diversity issues. Not long ago, Ellen Pao filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against her employer, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a venture capital company.
