In 2020, Google made ambitious commitments to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion following … [+]
In 2020, Google made sweeping commitments to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion following nationwide protests against racial injustice. But a few years later, many of these programs are seeing significant cuts, according to CNBC report.
Shortly after the murder of George Floyd and the rise of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, Google CEO Sundar Pichai promised major initiatives such as increasing underrepresented groups in leadership positions and more that doubled the representation of Black people in non-senior positions by 2025. Google also aimed to improve hiring, retention and promotion practices that impact diversity.
However, CNBC has learned that Google has backtracked on some key diversity programs in 2023 amid budget tightening.
Notably, Google has decided not to hire a new cohort for its early-career immersion program for underrepresented software engineering talent next year. The company has also laid off staff to support this initiative.
In another case, participants in Google’s apprenticeship program raised concerns about lower salaries than other engineers doing similar work. Apprentices claimed they contributed significantly to Google’s code base while earning only half of what full-time software engineers earned.
Additionally, Google removed partnership management and recruiting roles for underrepresented groups. The company also scaled back learning programs aimed at fostering inclusion.
Meanwhile, sources said recent layoffs at Google included leaders of employee resource groups focused on racial diversity.
This decline in diversity commitments reflects a broader decline in DEI&B investments in the technology sector in 2023. Diversity-related job postings fell 44% year-over-year, according to Indeed data . Tech giants, like Meta, have also made similar cuts.
Asked about the specific cuts, a Google spokesperson did not dispute the details to CNBC, but said the company remains strongly dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Yet experts say this decline comes at a critical time, particularly with the rise of AI. If talent diversity is not included in the development of artificial intelligence, it risks perpetuating deeper inequities in the technology sector, for both employees and consumers.