Key to the Future of Information Technology -- Underrepresented Groups

Of course, the problem of attracting IT workers is not limited to people of color. In fact, the federal Office of Technology Policy issued a report titled, “America’s New Deficit: The Shortage of Information Technology Workers.” But there are some profound benefits to be derived from expanding the presence of underrepresented groups, such as African-Americans, Hispanics and women.

“In 1998, 4% of the B.S. degrees in computer science went to African Americans,” Herman D. Hughes, a professor at Michigan State University, wrote in Black Collegian magazine. “In graduate degrees, these percentages are lower. Studies have shown that if these underrepresented groups were fully participating in the information technology (IT) workforce, there would be no IT shortage.”

So, solving the problem of underrepresentation will also solve the problem of too few workers in the field, generally estimated to be 1 million employees.

But if IT companies are going to be successful in bringing in more people of color, they can’t keep looking in the same places. Otherwise, they’ll end up with the same results.

Although historically Black universities and colleges (HBCUs) represent less than 3 percent of all universities in the U.S., they graduate 31 percent of those getting industry-related degrees.

Microsoft, realizes that priming the pump must begin even before students reach college. It has formed a partnership with the National Urban League to host an annual Youth IT Challenge (YITC). The company provides mentoring and broader exposure to technology over a 6-month preparation period. Michael Robinson, general manager for the New York office of Microsoft Corporation, served as one of the mentors.

“When the winning team was announced, I literally had tears in my eyes,” said Darwin Davis, president and CEO of the New York Urban League. “I knew that a scant six months ago these youngsters did not know each other, showed little evidence of teamwork, team building, technical skills, or business planning. To see how far they have come makes Microsoft, their volunteers, the National Urban League and the New York Urban League proud.”

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