NetworkNews | Network of Executive Women

IS DIVERSITY RECESSION-PROOF? According to a new report by DiversityInc magazine, “National diversity leaders are actually ramping up their diversity efforts in these tough times to take advantage of the buyer's market for talent and ensure their pipelines are strong.” If they do cut back on diversity initiatives, the reductions are commensurate with other organizational cuts, the magazine reports. The contention is based on DiversityInc’s 2008 Top 50 Companies survey, which found that more than 80 percent of those firms experiencing significant corporate cutbacks said their diversity budgets were either increasing or remaining stable. “That's a strong testament to their company's beliefs that diversity is critical to their lines of business and is vital to both their long- and short-term success,” the editors write.

WOMEN MAY PASS MEN IN WORKFORCE. As the recession continues women are on the brink of surpassing men in the U.S. workforce for the first time in history, the New York Times reports. “The reason has less to do with gender equality than with where the ax is falling,” the Times says. The proportion of women who are working has changed little during the current recession, but 82 percent of job cuts have fallen on men, who are heavily represented in distressed industries like manufacturing and construction. Women tend to be employed in areas that are less sensitive to economic ups and downs, and in jobs that allow more time for child care and other domestic work.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. February marks the 83rd observance of African American History Month. African Americans comprise 13.5 percent of the U.S. population and are the largest minority group in 23 states and the District of Columbia. There are 2.3 million African American college students in the U.S., and college attendance among blacks has risen by 1 million in the past 15 years. There are 2.4 million African American military veterans, and they represent the largest minority group that has served. There are 1.2 million African American–owned businesses and 27 percent of African American adults work in management or the professions. Despite progress on some fronts, African Americans are still underrepresented in corporate America, especially African American women. According to Catalyst, just 1 percent of the corporate officer positions at Fortune 500 companies are held by African American women.

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