Diversity

By the year 2050, nonwhites will represent close to half of

the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

projections.

By 2005, the ethnic minority share of the workforce is

expected to grow to 28 percent, up from 18 percent in

1980 and 22 percent in 1990. Although the African

American population is now the largest minority group, the

Hispanic and Asian populations are growing much faster.

In 1994, the African American population was estimated to

be 33 million, or 12.7 percent of the total population, up

from 11.7 percent in 1980. By 2025, African Americans

are expected to represent 14 percent of the total.

The Hispanic population is 10 percent of the total U.S.

population in 1994, it is projected to be 17 percent by

2025. The Asian population was 3.4 percent of the total

U.S. population in 1994, it is expected to more than double

by 2025.

With all of that stated, the above statistics should erase any

doubt that workforce diversity is a critical business issue

with serious, bottom line consequences, the Texaco lawsuit

has erased those doubts forever. But a well publicized

racial discrimination lawsuit is just one example of how an

organization can be hurt if it is not actively working to

manage and leverage workforce diversity.

Other organizational costs could include depressed

employee morale and loyalty, increased turnover and poor

productivity. On the other hand, if managed well, a diverse

workforce can boost productivi...