Narrative: Tech is Not Diverse

Note: this is one of two narratives on the site which could be considered political, but shouldn’t be. As I explain below, this isn’t really a political issue – it’s about trying to ensure that the tech industry employs the best possible people, and that opportunities exist for all those who are qualified.

Written: January 11, 2017

The US tech industry is many things – innovative, disruptive, and fiercely competitive. But it isn’t as diverse as it could be – those employed in the industry tend to be disproportionately male and white, with women and at least some ethnic minorities considerably underrepresented. There’s also another element of diversity which is harder to measure and less talked about, which relates to the coastal and urban orientation of the US tech industry – Silicon Valley and other hubs tend to be characterized by a certain world view which is younger, more urban, and more open/liberal than the US as a whole. This isn’t a political issue per se – the tech industry and the world it serves suffer because of this lack of diversity. The working culture, the products and services produced, and the outlook of tech companies is poorer and narrower than it would be were women and minorities better represented.

The good news is that major tech companies are starting to take the issue seriously and address it. We’ve begun to see diversity reports from some of these companies on a regular basis, and there’s more reporting from the tech press on this issue too. And yet there seem to be systemic issues which prevent the industry from making significant progress here, some of which start long before someone from an underrepresented group applies for a job. The industry is making progress, but it’s slow progress and there are still far too many cultural and structural barriers to women and certain ethnic minorities. This is a problem we’ll be dealing with for years to come.