The tech industry is facing a diversity gap in its workforce, prompting some companies to take part in recruitment and retention initiatives.by the Kapor Center and the NAACP finds that between 2014 and 2021, there was only a 1% increase in Black representation within technical roles at large tech companies. It also found that Black talent represents 3.7% of those technical roles despite accounting for 13% of the labor force.
“The apprenticeship program is one of those programs trying to make a concerted effort to make a change,” said Brawnski Armstrong, senior software engineer and engineering manager at the trading firm DRW. “We’re not counting on folks magically learning how to program computers overnight.” The Chicago-based software company Five to Nine helps companies manage their events and also provides analytics on how well company initiatives are helping retain employees. Co-founder and CEO Jasmine Shells has raised over $5 million from investors for the company.