Posted By: Technology Staff Editor In: Information Technology written by Paul McDougall, courtesy of InformationWeek
Microsoft is working with the National Society of Black Engineers and hiring and promoting African-American programmers and engineers.
A recent study says that less than 10% of graduates of computer science programs in the U.S. are black -- a fact that will contribute to a shortage of technology professionals in the years ahead, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said.
"The United States is not turning out from any group as many of the great engineers as there will be jobs for," said Gates, who added that blacks are particularly underrepresented in the tech industry because high school dropout rates in the black community exceed 50%.
"That is a stunning number ... the trends are very much working against somebody in that situation," said Gates, speaking Friday at a conference hosted by the National Society of Black Engineers at Microsoft's Redmond, Wash., headquarters.
"There will be a huge number of computer science jobs created over the next 10 years, and the number of people majoring in those subjects is falling short of that," said Gates.
According to a study by the National Science Foundation, fewer than 6,000 of the 52,500 computer science graduates in the U.S. in 2004 were black. "The shallow pool of skills is due, in part, to the lack of minorities being drawn into technology," said NSBE executive director Carl Mack, in a statement.
Microsoft, named by the NSBE on Tuesday as the top employer for black engineers, said it's trying to change that by partnering with NSBE and hiring and promoting African-American programmers and engineers.
The company also announced a software developer grant to the NSBE that gives its members a three-year membership in the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance. The memberships give NSBE faculty and students access to a range of Microsoft products and technologies, including Windows Vista, SQL Server, and Visual Studio.
Gates said Friday that Microsoft will continue its efforts to build a diverse workforce. "We want to get black engineers, Hispanic engineers ... everyone that we can," he said.
Comments
Posted by: David Hobday
The worst discrimination I have experienced is that of an envious interviewer who feels that I may be a threat to his position. I find that my qualifcations are perfect for the interview then the welcome changes when my face shows up. Sad to say.
Posted by: Alvin
Bill Gates should not ignore the race bias that still exists among potential high tech employers. He should spend time with some of his friends asking them why having the education, skills and experience is sometimes not enough? What significance if any, does race have in their hiring decisions? If he can focus on inclusion, why couldn't others focus on exclusion? He needs to admit that some companies prefer to hire candidates that look and act like them. This puts black and Hispanic high tech candidates at a disadvantage. Lack of education is not the only reason for the dearth of qualified minority candidates. There is also a 'lack of access'.
Posted by: Phi
I am a black Software Engineer and I believe the only reason why I got into it in the first place was that I spent a decade in Africa as a kid- where I was pushed into Science and technology. Bill Gates saying there are too few Black engineers is not going to solve the problem. The problem has to do with a human mind-set which is harder to change than it was for alchemist to gold. My suggestion would be to have well-developed outreach programs (better managed then the one other there now [which is more important than amount of funding]) to encourage blacks to get into science and technology, teach them us how to study and survive in the field, help us overcome bad mind-set some have adopted and help us see the benefits of studying/working together in and out of school. Like a chain reaction, have the older generation inspire and mentor the next. If done well, you will have us being inspired as we are to go eat at good soul food restaurants. Being in engineering can be lonely and difficult if done alone and I know this first-hand. It is not a one-day solution and can take a few generations.
