Increasing Diversity Within The Field Of Engineering Closing The Minority Gap

Although minorities have broadened their career choices in the past few years, they have not increased their numbers in science and technology. The current US workforce is comprised of 77% White, 4% Asian and 19% Minority, but these numbers do not hold for engineering professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics in conjunction with the National Science Foundation states that among engineering professionals, 88 % are White, 6% are Asian and only 6% are minority. Studies indicate that both industry and society benefit from diversity; furthermore, teams function at higher levels when there is diversity among colleagues. This optimization enhances competitiveness within companies, enabling them to outperform their competitors. However, even though there are many benefits from increasing diversity, the fact still remains that a minority gap exists within engineering. This paper will explore philosophies and provide methods and recommendations to promote an increase of minority participation within science and technology. The main discussion will focus upon the “minority gap” model, which is a triad. Each side personal, education, and industry represents a different element of support needed to foster and stimulate growth in the individual. Understanding items presented in the model will help companies foster future participation of minority engineers and scientists in today’s technological environment.