Uber's diversity numbers aren't great, but they're not the worst either - here's how they stack up to other tech giants
On Tuesday, the company released its diversity numbers for the first time as part of its plan to rehab its company culture.
In short, Uber's diversity numbers are not great, but not the worst when compared to industry giants like Facebook, Apple, Google, Twitter, and Microsoft.
One glaring problem is the lack of women or underrepresented minorities in tech leadership positions. Nearly 89% of technical directors are male at Uber, and 75% are white.
"This report is a first step in showing that diversity and inclusion is a priority at Uber," said CEO Travis Kalanick in a statement. "I know that we have been too slow in publishing our numbers - and that the best way to demonstrate our commitment to change is through transparency. And to make progress, it's important we measure what matters."
Breaking it down: How Uber compares
More than one-third of Uber's global workforce is women, but the percentage shrinks when it comes to women in technical roles and leadership positions at the company. Only 15% of its engineering workforce is women, a number on par with Twitter but below many tech companies.
When it comes to race, Asians make up the majority of Uber's technical engineers, hiring a larger percentage than Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Twitter. However, its leadership team is also the most white when compared with the same companies.
When it comes to tech leadership specifically, Uber's managers are 75% white and 25% Asian.
"Our leadership is more homogeneous than the rest of our employees," Uber said in its report. "For example, no Black or Hispanic employees hold leadership positions in tech. This clearly has to change - a diversity of backgrounds and experience is important at every level."
As a result, Uber says it plans to commit $3 million over the next three years to support organizations that bring more women and minorities into tech. Uber employees will have a hand in saying which groups the company partners with, according to a blog post from its chief human resources officer, Liane Hornsey.
The company hasn't set any forward-looking goals of where it wants to get to in 2018, but Uber's workplace turnaround is still a work in progress. At the end of April, former attorney general Eric Holder will be releasing the results of his investigation into Uber's office culture, which the company has also pledged to make available to the public.