Hispanics see the most disparities when talking about the workforce in STEM fields. Schools and employers are a key part of closing the gap between Hispanic STEM professionals and their white counterparts.
According to the Pew Research Center, Hispanic people make up 17% of the total workforce, but only 8% of workers in the STEM field. White workers make up 63% of the workforce and 67% of workers in STEM. Hispanic workers make only 83% of their white counterpart’s salary.
Alleviating these inequities play a key role in the advancement of Hispanic communities. Although there has been a slight increase in the Hispanic workforce in STEM, more needs to be done by education institutions and hiring managers to make sure Hispanics are being represented.
According to the Pew Research Center, in 2021, Hispanics earned 15% of all bachelor’s degrees in the U.S., but only 12% of STEM degrees. This can be attributed to lack of educational funds in Hispanic neighborhoods. A 2020 Student Research report found that Hispanic high school students are less likely to have internet in their homes.
Hispanic students were also more likely than their peers to attend under-funded schools, come from lower-income households, and experience financial restrictions in higher education.
Hispanic-serving institutions are attempting to close this gap in various ways. For example, the National Science Foundation provided a $10 million grant to six Universities in California in 2018 in an effort to retain and graduate more Hispanic students in STEM disciplines.
In order to heal the disparities between Hispanic students and white students in STEM, community outreach is necessary. Providing resources to disadvantaged minorities is key to closing the gap.
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