Will 2014 Be the "Year of Tech Opportunity" for Minorities?

Will 2014 Be the “Year of Tech Opportunity” for Minorities?

January 6, 2014
Michael Mandel

Today’s tech/information boom is creating new opportunities for minorities in the U.S.. Since 2009, the number of blacks working in computer and mathematical occupations has risen by 37%, and the number of Hispanic/Latino workers in computer and mathematical occupations has risen by 35%. By comparison, the total number of workers in computer and mathematical occupations have only risen by 14% over the same period.

The tech/information boom is following in the same path as the tech-driven New Economy boom of the 1990s, which was the best period for black and Hispanic/Latino workers in recent memory. The 1990s New Economy boom cut the unemployment rate for blacks nearly in half. Meanwhile the employment-population ratio for Hispanics and Latinos climbed to an astounding 66% during the New Economy boom.

Why are minorities seeing gains in the tech/information sector today? First, the sector needs workers. According to data from The Conference Board, the number of want ads for computer and mathematical occupations are up 60-70% since 2009. Tech/information firms are complaining that they can’t get the people that they need.

Second, education matters. The number of bachelor’s degrees in computer and information sciences granted to Hispanic and Latino students rose by 44% over the past three years, even while associate degrees in computer and information sciences granted to Hispanic and Latino students rose by 49% over the same period. Computer and information sciences degrees granted to black students rose by 25% (bachelors) and 34% (associates) over the past three years as well.

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These trends show no sign of slowing down. This suggests that the tech/information boom will continue to open doors in 2014.

*These figures for the growth of computer and information sciences degrees for blacks are likely to be somewhat understated because the 2011-2012 data includes a category for two or more races that the 2008-2009 data does not have.