It should go without saying that an engineer, no matter the specialty, can be any race, gender, religion, sexuality, or any other minority demographic. However, according to Zippa’s accumulation of engineer demographics and statistics in the U.S., the demographics of engineers have hardly changed since 2010.
When employers commit to diversity in engineering, the company can reap many benefits, including a better reputation, higher profits, strong values, and more. Enhance your workforce by dedicating your recruiting efforts to searching for applicants whose backgrounds can contribute to improving the quality of work your company produces.
Why Is Diversity in Engineering Important?
Recruiting a diverse workforce is the best way to foster inclusion in the engineering industry. According to Zippa’s research:
- Women make up only 13.7% of the engineering workforce, whereas men account for 86.3%.
- The average age of employed engineers is 40 years old.
- The majority ethnicity among engineers is White, making up 67.9% of the workforce. Asian engineers follow this at 15.0%, and Hispanic or Latino engineers at 9.1%.
With this in mind, there is a large need for employers to consider diversity and inclusion during hiring processes. Engineering is a field built on solving problems, and a diverse workforce allows different perspectives and backgrounds to come together and think critically about a problem.
4 Benefits of Diversity in Engineering
To increase diversity in your workforce, it is crucial to create opportunities for individuals who fall within underrepresented groups found in this job field. It is important to understand how hiring diverse engineers can contribute to your company’s success and establish it as a highly regarded workplace.
1. Leads to More Innovation
Employers must understand that race, gender, or any other personal characterization does not limit success in the engineering field. When you hire a diverse team, you are opening your company to various ways of thinking and working, leading to innovation and a wide range of skills and methods.
To unlock the full spectrum of talent and to promote innovation in engineering, it is imperative to address these barriers head-on. By dismantling systemic obstacles and creating an inclusive environment, women and minorities can be provided with equal access to resources, education, and opportunities.
2. Increases Profits
Diversity in the workforce amplifies perspectives, fueling innovation, growth, and financial success. A study by the Peterson Institute found that companies with gender diversity in top leadership roles experienced significant increases in net profits. This survey also noted that companies that have a higher amount of women in their workforce lead to higher job satisfaction ratings for the staff.
Embracing diversity unlocks fresh insights, unique problem-solving approaches, and heightened creativity. Diverse teams excel in adaptability, opportunity identification, and navigating complexities.
3. Promotes Strong Values and Ethics
Diversifying the engineering field is not only ethically imperative but also a reflection of societal progress. As nations strive for equality, engineering must represent an inclusive society and treat qualified individuals fairly. Proactive measures such as diverse hiring practices and incentivizing STEM education can foster a broader pool of applicants.
Companies and educational institutions are vital in promoting diversity, equal opportunities, and shaping an inclusive engineering profession. Engineering recruiting firms play an essential role by advocating for diversity in hiring practices and connecting qualified candidates from underrepresented backgrounds with employment opportunities.
4. Matches Changing Demographics
The United States has established itself as a globally renowned powerhouse in engineering breakthroughs and innovations. However, to maintain this status, engineering companies must demonstrate their willingness to embrace diversity by hiring individuals of all races, genders, ages, sexualities, and creeds.
The 2011 United States Census reported that approximately 50.4 percent of newborns were non-white, indicating that future employees are likely to be from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. By proactively prioritizing diversity in their hiring practices, engineering companies can unlock the immense potential of a diverse workforce and ensure their sustained success in an ever-evolving and multicultural world.
How Can Your Company Encourage Diversity Among Engineers?
Are you committed to creating a diverse workforce at your engineering company but need help with expanding your reach? There are several steps your company can take to enhance the rate of diverse candidates you interview and hire without requiring extensive effort or training.
From using more inclusive and descriptive job descriptions to presenting yourself as a united front, there are easy ways to increase your likability to potential employees. Working with an engineering recruitment firm can help you reach out to a diverse group of qualified engineers to potentially employ.
Use Inclusive Language in Job Descriptions
If employers are not careful, the wording of a position’s job description can turn off potential candidates. Using non-inclusive language may ward off those who are qualified for the job and would be highly valuable to your team. Because of this, when referring to race, gender, sexuality, or even location in the description, it is important to be inclusive and general with your terms.
By not targeting a specific demographic and using inclusive language, you open yourself to an abundance of candidates that may be exactly what you’re looking for. Are you having trouble with the wording of your job postings? Work with professional recruiters to help you craft the perfect job description.
Hire for Skills
No matter the job, it should be obvious to employers to hire people with the necessary skills for the job, not on who they are. When hiring an engineer, it is essential to prioritize skills and qualifications over biases. Focusing solely on an individual’s abilities, expertise, and experience allows for a fair evaluation process and ensures that the most capable candidates are selected. By doing this, you open yourself up to a wider pool, leading to innovation and success.
Create a Diverse Interviewing Team
An effective approach to putting your candidates at ease is to establish a diverse hiring team to conduct interviews. From childhood, encountering individuals who resemble and reflect our own identities in the workplace has always been comforting and motivating. Demonstrating a united front shows that you are dedicated to recognizing and appreciating individuals for their skills and abilities rather than solely considering their demographic information.
When you are hiring for engineering jobs in Kansas City and need assistance in growing your reach to underrepresented groups of people, work with our professional recruiters at Austin Nichols Technical Search. Our team is dedicated to helping you find the right person for the right job. Contact us today and tell us how we can improve your recruiting and diversity efforts.
