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Apple’s EEO-1 statement shows small change in employee diversity for 2015

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Over the weekend, Apple posted its latest EEO-1 statement: the Equal Employment Opportunity form follows government regulations to note diversity of Apple’s employee base (via AppleInsider). The newly-released 2015 statement shows that 30 percent of Apple’s employees in the United States are female, a rise of 1% over the numbers posted in the 2014 statement. Black and Hispanic employees make up 8.6 percent and 11.7 percent of the workforce, respectively.

At an executive level, Apple continues to be heavily stacked towards white men. The report says that Apple’s senior officials, executives and managers are 83 percent are male, and 83 percent are white.

That being said, it’s worth noting that Apple refutes the EEO-1 process. It says that the federally-enforced survey is outdated and does not reflect reality. The company’s own numbers paint itself in a much better light, claiming >50% growth in employment of black, Hispanic and female hires.

This is how Tim Cook talks about Apple’s diversity efforts in a letter posted on its Diversity site last year. On that same page, Apple pours cold water on the EEO-1 numbers, explaining that whilst it is a benchmark for comparison across companies, it is not how Apple measures its progress. Apple has not updated its diversity site with the latest data however.

Last year we reported the demographics of our employees for the first time externally, although we have long prioritized diversity. We promised to improve those numbers and we’re happy to report that we have made progress. In the past year we hired over 11,000 women globally, which is 65 percent more than in the previous year. In the United States, we hired more than 2,200 Black employees — a 50 percent increase over last year — and 2,700 Hispanic employees, a 66 percent increase. In total, this represents the largest group of employees we’ve ever hired from underrepresented groups in a single year. Additionally, in the first 6 months of this year, nearly 50 percent of the people we’ve hired in the United States are women, Black, Hispanic, or Native American.

Apple says the EEO-1 statement ‘has not kept pace with changes in industry or the American workforce over the past half century’. It’s unclear what Apple means by this exactly, but it at least addresses the discrepancies. Apple says its own data is a more accurate representation of reality. Regardless of whether you agree with the methodologies, Apple’s diversity stats are better than most of the industry.

Apple has also made a big note of highlighting the role of women in its company over the last few years. Following Ahrendts high-profile appointment to SVP in 2014, Apple gave demo time to two female managers on its keynote stage: Jennifer Bailey (presenting Apple Pay) and Susan Prescott (presenting Apple News). Bailey also appeared at the Code/Mobile conference earlier in the year.

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Comments

  1. otterwithkids - 8 years ago

    The EEO-1 is a racist, sexist, bigoted set of statistics. The fact that Apple (or any company) even has to keep track of this crap is a testament to how stupid our government is. If Apple sees benefit in hiring people from different backgrounds (which it should), great. If it doesn’t, the government shouldn’t be forcing its bigotry down industry’s throat. If any company should be revolting against the techniques used in George Orwell’s *1984*, it’s Apple.

    • alyssaan - 8 years ago

      This is what I don’t understand. People should be hired as the best person for the role REGARDLESS of who or what they are. Not hiring people for roles specifically because they are X or Y. It sounds completely backwards and baffling.

    • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

      EXACTLY. The stupidity of people is far too great. I’m sorry to tell them but pointing to or demanding diversity IS racism. The only way that racism doesn’t exist is if there is no questioning or demanding why there isn’t more of a particular race, etc., included in whatever group or activity is going on. It’s so embarrassingly stupid there aren’t even words.

  2. nelmat - 8 years ago

    Employees should be hired based on their merits and qualifications/relevant experience. Not to tick boxes and artificially balance racial/gender structure.

  3. FellowshipSpace - 8 years ago

    I will sit and wait when I see Hispanics and Blacks take school seriously to be able to make it into prominent roles. It is rare the minorities that take school and intelligence seriously. I am Hispanic and don’t I care that Apple doesn’t hire enough minorities…. because us as minorities do absolutely NOTHING to put ourselves in positions to go to school and gain a degree. (Again this is the majority, but not all and that shows in the numbers that Apple has hired 8.6 and 11.7). I prefer they hire the required brains for the job then worrying about making stupid numbers for the government. If it requires all white employees to have a successful company then so be it, I will still buy the Apple products!

    • melanie45221 - 8 years ago

      Before you claim that Hispanics and Blacks don’t “take school seriously”, you may want to do some fact checking. In a 2014 report, college enrollment has increased 240% for Hispanics, from 1996 -2012, and 72% for Blacks. You can put yourself in the misconception that minorities take education for granted, but not the rest of us. You also may want to take your grammar seriously.

      As for the rest of you bigots, diversity doesn’t equal racism. It’s funny how when the question of diversity is brought up, the “good ol boys” get nervous when it might positioned to be 60 out of 100 of them, instead of the current 86 out of 100. Sheesh! Share a little bit of that “America Pie” with the rest of us why don’t you?! You still have more that half!

      • FellowshipSpace - 8 years ago

        1. I would take my grammar seriously in this post, but I didn’t care to. (And you also need to check your grammar. I didn’t intend my post to show perfect intellectual writing like you did and still screwed up!)
        2. Clearly you didn’t understand what I wrote. Maybe my grammar was that bad that you couldn’t make anything out of what I wrote. I didn’t say EVERYONE, but the vast majority don’t care for education. (Rap life is too good of a life to try and reach and be the next “Lil Wayne” that school isn’t an option.)
        3. Don’t criticize what you didn’t understand and don’t judge my grammar when yours isn’t much better.

        Have a good day!

  4. Steve V. Kass - 8 years ago

    My question is, why SO many Indians (where ever they’re from) go further in school, would work for less, and Tech advance then many American blacks and Hispanics? I see MORE Indians in certain fields than African Americans and Hispanic. Sad.

    • FellowshipSpace - 8 years ago

      That is a great question! They tend to take education seriously and just to exercise their knowledge of what they learn they are willing to take just about any job. Not to mention they also go into the fields that they actually enjoy. They are smart determined individuals.

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Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.