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The Future of Environmental Diversity

The Future of Environmental Diversity. AGENDA. Identify the major demographic changes in the United States Examine the educational attainment levels of these diverse populations Predict the workforce of tomorrow Implement a plan of action. Demographic Shifts. Changing Demographics.

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The Future of Environmental Diversity

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  1. The Future of Environmental Diversity

  2. AGENDA • Identify the major demographic changes in the United States • Examine the educational attainment levels of these diverse populations • Predict the workforce of tomorrow • Implement a plan of action

  3. Demographic Shifts

  4. Changing Demographics • The United States Population will experience major demographic changes over the next six decades • Population Increases • Hispanic • Asian-Pacific Islander • African American • Native Americans • Population Decreases • White Non-Hispanic Population

  5. 2000 Census Highlights • Between July 1, 1990 and July 1, 1999: • The Asian and Pacific Islander population grew 43 % to 11.9 million • Hispanic Population: grew 57.9 % to 35.3 million. • White population: increased 7.3 % to 211 million. • Black Population: remained the country’s largest minority group, experiencing a 13.8 % rise to 34.8 million. • American Indian and Alaska Native population: increased 110 % to 4.13 million. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, January 2001

  6. Current Population

  7. Population Estimates1995 - 2000 Source: Population Estimates, US Census Bureau, August 2000

  8. Population Projections By the year 2020, our population will be 326,000,000, an increase of 24%. • Hispanics will surpass Blacks as the largest minority by 2015. • By 2025 Hispanics will account for 15.7% of the US’s total population, compared to 13.9% Black, and 7.0% Asian • Native Americans will double in number. • The Asian population will grow fastest in all regions of the country.

  9. Population Estimates2006 - 2010 Source: Population Estimates, US Census Bureau, August 2000

  10. Key Points • No matter how Race and Hispanic Origin is tabulated, it is clear that the next century will experience major demographic shifts. • Because our nation’s labor force will be increasingly comprised of people of color, it is in the best interest of employers that ethnic minorities are achieving at every academic and professional level • Significant gaps exist in the educational attainment levels of Non-Hispanic Whites and People of Color

  11. Educational Attainment

  12. High School Completion • During the last 20 years, African Americans and Hispanics ages 18-24 have improved their high school completion rates. However, these rates continue to trail that of Non-Hispanic Whites. • The gap between high school completion for whites and African Americans was 8 percentage points. Between Whites and Hispanics, high school completion rates were more than 20 percentage points. • In 1997, high school completion rates for African Americans declined for a 3rd consecutive year to 74.7% • Hispanics high school completion rates increased to 62%

  13. College Enrollment • A record 14.9 million students enrolled in colleges and universities last fall, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The figure is up from 14.7 million in 1998 and represents an increase of 10 % over the last decade. • Enrollment in institutions of higher education is expected to rise between 1996 and the year 2008. • The most important factor in the projected rise of college enrollment is the projected increase of 18 % in the traditional college-age population of 18 to 24-year-olds. (Baby Boom Echo) • The 18 to 24-year-old population is projected to increase 18% by the year 2008.

  14. Projections of College Enrollment 1998-2009 Source: National Center for Education Statistics, August 1999

  15. College Enrollment • Undergraduate enrollment is projected to increase at an annual growth rate of 1.0 % during the 1996-2002 period and 1.2 % during the 2002-2008 period. • Full Time Enrollment will increase by 19% • Part Time Enrollment will increase by 11% • Demographic Shifts • 1979: Students of Color comprised only 16% of total college students • 2000: Students of Color comprised 31% of total college students

  16. Diversity In Higher Education • According to a report by the Educational Testing Service, over the next 15 years, enrollment at American colleges will increase 19 %, to 16 million, and minority students will account for 80 percent of that growth. • The proportion of students who are Black will rise from 12.8 % in 1995 to 13.2 % by 2015 • Hispanic student participation will rise from 10 % to about 15 % • Asian student participation will rise from 5.4 % to 8.4 %. • Non-Hispanic White student participation will decline from 71 % to 63 % during the same period.

  17. Students of Color in Environmental Programs • The number of students of color pursuing environmentally related degrees relative to their total proportion is increasing, although slowly. • From 1987 to 1997 there was a 10% increase of students of color earning environmentally related bachelor’s degrees. • Hispanic, African, Asian and Native American students made up 23% of those receiving bachelor’s degrees in environmentally related disciplines, compared to their total population representation of 28% Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, August 1999

  18. Minority Students Receiving Environmental Bachelor’s Degrees

  19. People of Color with Environmental Bachelor’s Degrees Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, August 1999

  20. Minority Students Receiving Environmental Master’s Degrees 1997 Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, August 1999

  21. Minority Students Receiving Environmental Master’s Degrees 1997 Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, August 1999

  22. From Academia To Careers • Despite the educational gains that have been made by students of color, as well as the closing of the gap between minority students and their White counterparts, there remains a critical lack of minority students in environmentally-related fields of study. • Although it is uncertain what factors influence students of color to pursue and environmental degree, the relatively small growth in the diverse environmental professionals over the past decade indicates that greater intervention and exposure to the field is necessary in order to generate interest.

  23. The Environmental Workforce

  24. Employment By Occupation 2000 and Projected 2010 Occupation Employment (in thousands) Change 2000 2010 Number % Biological Scientists 73 88 15 21.0 Conservation Scientists 16 18 2 8.3 Forest Conservation 20 22 1 3.9 Other Life Scientists 28 33 4 15.9 Chemists 84 100 16 19.1 Environmental Scientists 64 78 14 22.3 Geoscientists 25 30 5 18.1 Hydrologists 8 10 2 25.7 Economists 22 26 4 18.5 Env. Protection Techs 27 34 7 24.5 The Environmental Field Will Experience Modest Growth over the Next Decade Source: The Hudson Institute. Workforce 2000

  25. Most Significant Source of Education or Training Employment Number Percent 2000 2010 2000 2010 Total, All Occupations 145,954 167,754 100.00 100.00 Bachelor's or higher degree 30,072 36,556 20.7 21.8 First Professional Degree 2,034 2,404 1.4 1.4 Doctorate 1,492 1,845 1.0 1.1 Master’s 1,426 1,759 1.0 1.0 Bachelor’s or Higher PLUS Work Experience 7,319 8,741 5.0 5.2 Bachelor’s Degree 17,801 21,807 12.2 13.0 Associate Degree or Vocational Award 11,761 14,600 8.1 8.7 Associate Degree 5,083 6,710 3.5 4.0 Postsecondary Award 6,678 7,891 4.6 4.7 Work-Related Training 103,760 116,597 71.3 69.5 Work Experience in a related Occupation 10,456 11,559 7.2 6.9 Long Term On the Job Training 12,435 13,373 8.5 8.0 Moderate Tem On the Job Training 27,671 30,794 19.0 18.4 Short Term On the Job Training 53,198 60,871 36.5 36.3 Significant Sources of Career Preparation

  26. Composition of American Workforce by Ethnic Group, Percent 1995-2020 (Projected) Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics projections to 2005 Hudson Institute projections 2010-2020

  27. Workforce Trends • The nation’s workforce will continue to become more ethnically diverse. • Non-Hispanics Whites will still account for 68 % of the workforce in 2020. • In Western states, though, diversification will be more significant, as the Hispanic and Asian populations and workforce rise rapidly. • Because economic growth depends on worker productivity, the educational attainments of today’s students raise an important concern for tomorrow’s workforce. • Educational levels need to be raised for all, but the continuing disparities between white and minority students presents major challenges. • The dismantling of affirmative action in California, Texas, Washington and Florida could contribute to lower enrollments of minority populations and public colleges and universities. Source: The Hudson Institute. Workforce 2000

  28. Workforce Trends • Limited Growth in Environmental Field creates competition for relatively small number of jobs • Without prior work experience, as well as exposure to the profession, it will be extremely difficult for students of color to find meaningful employment in the environmental field • Thousands of Professionals of Color are likely to migrate to faster growing industries unless opportunities are created which can attract them to the environmental field

  29. Opportunities

  30. Access Equity Mission/Values Rewards Incentives Response to a Mandate Non-Issue By Choice Lack of Awareness WHAT KIND OF ISSUE IS DIVERSITY FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

  31. Mentoring Broadening of core competencies Greater outreach to communities of color Stimulus for learning in a cross-cultural environment Mission Re-vitalization WHAT KIND OF ISSUE CAN DIVERSITY BE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

  32. Impacting the Field • Empowering a diverse workforce expands the capacity of the environmental field. • Creating opportunities makes an organization both accessible and marketable to employees and communities of color. • Communities, in turn, will expand the scope and the capacity of the organization.

  33. Next Steps • Define what Diversity is for you and your organization • Create an assessment plan to determine what role diversity currently plays in your organization. • Develop a sense of social ethics and social responsibility. • Commit resources • Mentor multiple interns.

  34. For More Information Michael Ho Diversity Associate The Environmental Careers Organization Michaelh@eco.org

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