By Jeff Rittener, Chief Government Affairs Officer for Intel
2020 has brought tremendous change. From COVID-19 to the social justice movement to the election, this year highlighted why advancing diversity and inclusion efforts is more critical now than ever. At Intel, we know we have a responsibility to raise the bar on transparency when it comes to our own commitment to diversity and pay equity. That is why, today, we are releasing our latest workforce representation data and 2019 EEO-1 pay data.
Intel is one of the only major technology companies that has publicly released its Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) data year over year. Although disclosure requirements were lifted this year due to COVID-19, sharing our data is a key part of our commitment to diversify our worldwide workforce and increase representation. This decision underscores Intel's advocacy for policies that keep the industry accountable for creating a more diverse and equal future.
As has often been true, Intel’s 2020 Diversity and Inclusion report indicates areas of progress, but also areas for improvement. We demonstrated progress globally in advancing women in experienced and senior positions and saw significant growth among our Latinx and veteran populations. However, we also saw a decline in our U.S. female representation.
Earlier this year we announced our RISE 2030 Goals. These include:
- Committing the company to increasing the number of women in technical roles to 40%
- Doubling the number of women and underrepresented minorities in senior leadership roles
- Advancing accessibility for and increasing the percentage of employees who self-identify as having a disability to 10% of our workforce
- Ensuring inclusive leadership practices are embedded in our culture globally over the next ten years.
We also shared our plans to continue investing in social equity programs and initiatives through Tech Equity@Intel, a companywide initiative to build a more equitable and brighter future for all our stakeholders. This platform illustrates how Intel plans to lead the way on equity and how the incoming administration and Congress should advance equity and diversity through policymaking.
Over the past several years, Intel has advocated for policies that advance nationwide diversity and inclusivity efforts, broaden access to STEM education, and increase workers' opportunities at all levels. The 2021 Fiscal Year NDAA, heading to President Trump’s desk, includes language that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to implement a grant program focused on increasing the training and education of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Many of the 500,000 JROTC cadets nationwide are underrepresented minorities, and this is a powerful vehicle to provide the next generation of technologists with the training needed to move into in-demand STEM careers.
We look forward to collaborating with governments, including the new U.S. Administration and Congress, to prioritize policies and initiatives that support diversity, inclusion and equity. This year's report represents the changes that must be made to achieve a diverse and equitable workforce. We will continue to release our representation and pay data each year to show our progress toward cultivating an increasingly diverse pipeline of talent while also pushing the companies we work with to do the same. Creating a more diverse workforce requires all companies to prioritize diversity and inclusion and achieve equal representation at every level. We will continue to be a tireless advocate of diversity and inclusivity initiatives within the public policy environment.