LinkedIn Shares Workforce Diversity Data; Vows to Improve It

In a move similar to Google, Linkedin, shared its workforce diversity data, revealing a predominantly male and white workplace, and vows to improve this.

LinkedIn's workforce is too heavily white and male and needs to become more diverse, the company admitted Thursday. LinkedIn said 61 percent of its 5,400 employees worldwide are men and 39 percent are women. Of its U.S. employees, 53 percent are white, 38 percent are Asian, 4 percent Hispanic and 2 percent black. Read more:

This comes just a few weeks after Google released its workforce diversity data. Google's workforce is 70% men and 61% white. Read more:

LinkedIn decided to follow Google’s lead and be transparent about its own workforce to help lead Silicon Valley to become more diverse. “True inclusion is something that can only be achieved through a workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our member base, and this is something we strive to do in all of our hiring efforts,” Wadors (Pat, Head of LinkedIn Talent) wrote. Read more:

Wadors said the company is already taking steps to address the imbalance, but said improving diversity is a continuous process. “While it’s easy for tech companies, like LinkedIn, to form partnerships with organisations that can promote a more balanced workplace diversity, there is a cycle of responsibility associated with transparency,” said Wadors.  Read more:

Being more transparent can spark that much-needed impetus to galvanize a company to improving its diversity reach, and it is hoped that with Google and LinkedIn publicly acknowledging the lack of diversity among their workforce, the technology industry will be enriched with an influx of diverse talents coming from the women and minority sectors soon.