A DIVERSE WORKFORCE . NICE IDEA OR BUSINESS IMPERATIVE ?
BY : DANIEL L . HAMMES ( DAN ) Campus Director – Seattle , Tacoma , & Everett Campuses , Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
The Collegiate Aviation Review International ( 1 ) notes that organizations had developed many programs to meet the anticipated global aviation workforce ; however , there is a significant disparity in getting more diverse students and employees . There is a business and social imperative for educational institutions and the aviation industry to address this gap and emphasize recruiting and retaining underrepresented groups .
Even though the United States has become increasingly more diverse , the growth of underrepresented ( e . g ., women , African Americans , Latinos , Native Americans , and LGBTQIA +) skilled workers entering into science , technology , engineering , and mathematics ( STEM ) fields has not reflected that same growth in diversity ( 2 ) . This lack of growth in diversity is true ; even though there has been a slight decrease in the diversity gap in recruitment and increased opportunities , the completion rates for underrepresented students still remain low ( 3 ) . This diversity gap also includes LGBTQIA + students who cannot always be identified and may choose to stay invisible to avoid negative consequences ( 4 ) .
engineering degrees include 12.7 % White women and 79.1 % men of any race / ethnicity ( 5 ) .
Foundations , policymakers , and individual institutions have tried to address this gap with significant investments in programs ; however , the success of low-income , first-generation , and underrepresented students remains low ( 6 ) . The programs have increased the number of students in science and engineering degrees . Those graduating have increased at all levels between 2010 and 2017 ; however , underrepresented numbers remain low in receiving degrees ( 7 ) .
Researchers have stressed that the small gains are still not enough to address the historical barriers these students have faced . For example , women of color , ages 18-24 , represent only 7.6 % of undergraduate engineering degrees though they represent 20.6 % of the U . S . population ; however , other graduates in the
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PNAA ADVANCE / 2022