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TECHNOLOGY A23
Saturday 15 August 2015
Apple more than doubles hiring of women and minorities
In this Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015 photo, an Iranian shopkeeper walks through an electronics shop selling Apple products in Tehran, Iran. Under the nuclear
Associated Press
BRANDON BAILEY sued a report Thursday sity rates among technical Cook said in a statement federal report and provide
AP Technology Writer that follows similar reports workers, such as computer that he’s committed to hir- more “comprehensive”
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — from Google, Facebook, software developers or ing more women and mi- data on hiring as well as
Apple says it more than Intel and other large tech hardware engineers, which norities. He said Apple is purchasing and contract-
doubled the numbers of companies. Most of those are usually the highest-paid also contributing funds to ing with companies owned
women, blacks and His- companies only began dis- jobs at most Silicon Valley historically black colleges by women and minorities.
panics hired in the last closing their hiring numbers companies, outside top and programs that pro- He said that would provide
year, although that barely after Jackson began press- management. vide technology and skills- “a much clearer picture of
moved the needle in terms ing them to do so last year. The number of black and training to students in dis- what companies are actu-
of improving the diversity of One exception is Intel, Hispanic workers in Apple’s advantaged communities. ally doing.”
its total workforce. which has been releasing U.S.-based technical jobs “Diversity is critical to inno- While Silicon Valley compa-
Like other major tech com- diversity statistics for more increased from 13 percent vation and it is essential to nies have been reluctant to
panies, Apple has been than a decade. last year to 15 percent this Apple’s future,” Cook said. disclose such information,
under public pressure to Apple Inc. said 35 percent year. “We aspire to do more than they are publicly embrac-
increase the number of of its new hires worldwide The number of white and just make our company as ing the notion of improving
women and minorities in last year were women, Asian technical workers at diverse as the talent avail- diversity. Intel issued its own
a workforce that is over- while 24 percent of U.S. Apple also increased from able to hire.” report this week, showing
whelmingly male and white hires were black or Hispan- 77 percent last year to 78 In response, Jackson that more than 43 percent
or Asian. ic. percent this year. The in- praised Apple for making of its U.S. hires this year were
Civil rights leader Jesse As a result, Apple’s global creases appeared to be “solid, measurable prog- women or minorities, slightly
Jackson has been joined workforce of 110,000 is now matched by slight declines ress.” In a statement, he better than the 40 percent
by members of Congress 31 percent women, up from in the number of employ- also applauded the com- goal the company had set
and other critics calling for 30 percent last year. Its U.S. ees who identify as multi-ra- pany for releasing a copy for itself.
Silicon Valley firms to make workforce is 19 percent cial or didn’t declare their of the detailed workforce Jackson also cited Hewlett-
their employees more rep- black or Hispanic, up from ethnicity. statistics that major em- Packard for taking steps
resentative of the popula- 18 percent. That includes In another key category, ployers must report each that address concerns
tion as a whole. employees in non-techni- Apple said the number of year to the federal govern- about corporate boards in
Apple CEO Tim Cook said cal jobs, such as retail po- whites in U.S.-based lead- ment. Silicon Valley, which tend to
in a statement Thursday sitions in Apple stores. By ership positions dropped Apple and other tech have few women and mi-
that he’s proud of his com- comparison, about 26 per- to 63 percent from 64 per- companies have previously nority members. HP, which
pany’s efforts, but acknowl- cent of U.S. workers across cent, but the numbers refused to make those re- is splitting into two compa-
edged, “We know there is a all industries are black or of Asians, Hispanics and ports public. nies, announced that the
lot more work to be done.” Hispanic. blacks stayed the same at But Jackson said he wants board of each spinoff will
The maker if iPhones, iPads Critics are especially con- 21 percent, 6 percent and Apple and other tech com- include two black directors
and Mac computers is- cerned about low diver- 3 percent, respectively. panies to go beyond the and four women.q
