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Uber Releases Diversity Numbers

By Alejandra Montoya-Boyer

Today, Uber released its diversity numbers after increasing pressure from leaders like Rev. Jesse Jackson and allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination. The report shows that Uber’s overall workforce is more racially diverse than other tech companies, but is similar with regard to tech and leadership positions.

While African Americans make up 13 percent and Latinos comprise 17 percent of the U.S. population, Uber reports that of its tech positions 1 percent are held by African Americans and 2.1 percent by Latinos. These numbers are similar to tech positions at Google (1 percent Black, 3 percent Latino) and Facebook (1 percent Black, 3 percent Latino).

Similarly, of Uber’s leadership positions, 2.3 percent are held by African Americans and 0.8 percent by Latinos. By comparison, Google leadership positions are 2 percent Black and 1 percent Latino, and Facebook’s leadership is 3 percent Black and 3 percent Latino.

Perhaps because Uber has such an extensive operations staff in various cities, its non-tech full-time employee numbers (not drivers) are more diverse than many other tech companies. Latinos hold 8.5 percent of the non-tech full-time employee positions at Uber (compared to 5 percent at Google and 7 percent at Facebook), and African Americans hold 15.2 percent of the non-tech full-time positions at Uber (compared to 4 percent at Google and 5 percent at Facebook).

In order to increase diversity and change its culture, Uber is taking steps that include hiring a Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion and utilizing employee resource groups for underrepresented workers, including Black, Latino, LBGTQ, and disabled employees. Uber has also dedicated $3 million over the next three years to support organizationsincluding HBCUs and HSIsto bring more Black and Latino employees into tech. In addition to these steps, the Joint Center released several recommendations and a 2-minute video for increasing diversity in the tech sector last summer here.

In releasing their diversity report, Uber took the first step toward increasing diversity. Though they still need to increase diversity in tech and leadership positions, we should pay attention to the larger picture.  All tech companies are not the same.  

Unlike many other tech companies, Uber also provides extensive opportunities for people of color as drivers. According to a 2015 survey of Uber drivers, 24 percent are African American and 20 percent are Latino. These drivers are not employees and thus not included in Uber’s full-time employee numbers. Drivers are self-employed, responsible for paying for their own car, gas, and insurance expenses, and can work whenever they want. Uber also does not make social security contributions, offer sick leave, or ensure a minimum wage (studies, however, show that drivers nationwide make an average of about $19 per hour).  

In addition to looking at the current snapshot of the tech industry’s impact on communities of color, we must also look to emerging technologies and the future of our economy. For example, though Uber can provide diverse drivers job opportunities, emerging technologies like driverless cars may cause some long-term job loss. A recent report from the Center for Global Policy Solutions estimates that autonomous vehicles will be in regular use on the road in the next three to five years and that the U.S. may lose up to 4 million transportation jobs to autonomous vehicles.
In 2017, the Joint Center will examine shifts in our economy over the next decade, and implications for communities of color. For example, how can disruptive innovations like Smart Cities, automation, artificial intelligence/machine learning, digital money, big data/analytics, and telemedicine solve challenges and improve quality of life in communities of color? How can these innovations expand workforce and economic development opportunities? How can we mitigate potential challenges, such as job loss, redlining, exacerbation of racial disparities, and structural bias in platform design? Click here for more information.