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The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for African Americans
By the Editors of DiversityInc

© DiversityInc 2007 ® All rights reserved. No article on this site can be reproduced by any means, print, electronic or any other, without prior written permission of the publisher.

 

  1. AT&T
  2. Wachovia
  3. Verizon
  4. JPMorgan Chase
  5. General Motors
  6. PNC Financial Services Group
  7. Pepsi Bottling Group
  8. Cox Communications
  9. Sodexho
  10. Allstate

Demonstrating how critical recruitment, promotion and retention of African Americans is to corporate success, the Top 10 Companies for African Americans span seven industries: telecommunications, banking, insurance, hospitality, auto, consumer products and media.

 

While African Americans often have been the first group focused on when companies start to "get" the business case for diversity, their continuing importance as leaders, innovators, managers, employees and suppliers cannot be underestimated.

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Here are some key points about the Top 10 Companies for African Americans:

 

 

  • Nineteen percent of their total work forces are black, compared with 15.5 percent for the Top 50
  • They are making progress. Twenty-seven percent of new hires are black, compared with 19 percent for the Top 50
  • Twenty-four percent of their female work forces are black, compared with 19 percent for the Top 50
  • Eighteen percent of the women promoted in management are black, compared with 13 percent for the Top 50
  • They demonstrate unbiased retention in their work forces and their management, meaning their black employees and managers are retained at the same or higher levels than all employees, regardless of race/ethnicity
  • They spend 8.5 percent of their procurement budgets with minority-owned suppliers, compared with 5.7 percent for the Top 50

Methodology

To calculate this list, we looked at all demographic questions broken down by race/ethnicity in the Top 50 survey and pulled out black/African-American data. We also looked at the data for black/African-American men and women. Those demographics include work force, new hires, management in total and broken down by three levels—CEO and direct reports, direct reports to those direct reports, and all other managers—management promotions, and top 10 percent highest-paid employees. We factored in retention rates for blacks/African Americans compared with other groups. We also examined supplier diversity and the percentage of procurement budget going to minority-owned companies, as well as mentoring programs and financial assistance for diverse suppliers.

 

Here are the 2007 DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for African Americans:

 

No. 1: AT&T

 

Also No. 3 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list and No. 3 for Recruitment & Retention

 

A long-time Human Capital leader in every demographic, AT&T reports that 21 percent of its work force and 29 percent of its new hires are black/African American. In addition, 30 percent of the women in its work force and 14 percent of its managers are black/African American.

 

No. 2: Wachovia

Also No. 11 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list and No. 7 for People With Disabilities

 

Wachovia, which has steadily moved up the Top 50 in recent years, has very strong Human Capital demographics. Thirty percent of its new hires are black/African American and 19 percent of management promotions went to blacks/African Americans.

 

No. 3: Verizon

Also No. 6 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list and No. 8 for Recruitment & Retention

 

Another strong national diversity leader, Verizon has long had a focus on recruiting and retaining blacks/African Americans. The company reports that 20 percent of its board of directors are black/African American, as well as 20 percent of its total management and 28 percent of women managers promoted.

 

No. 4: JPMorgan Chase

Also No. 9 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 9 for Latinos, No. 7 for Executive Women, No. 4 for GLBT Employees, No. 8 for People With Disabilities, and No. 6 for Recruitment & Retention

 

Another long-time Human Capital diversity leader, the banking giant has a work force that is 18.5 percent black/African American and a female work force that is 23 percent black/African American. Twenty-two percent of new hires are black/African American.

 

No. 5: General Motors

 

Also No. 34 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list

 

The automaker reports that 28 percent of the women in its work force are black/African American, as well as 11 percent of promotions in management.

 

No. 6: PNC Financial Services Group

 

Also one of DiversityInc's 25 Noteworthy Companies for 2007

 

In its first time competing, the company demonstrated strength in Human Capital, especially in this demographic. PNC reports that 19 percent of its boards of directors are black/African American, as well as 17 percent of its work force.

 

No. 7: Pepsi Bottling Group

 

Also No. 2 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 4 for Recruitment & Retention, No. 2 for Latinos and No. 10 for Executive Women

 

The No. 2 company on the Top 50 list, Pepsi Bottling notes that 27 percent of its new hires are black/African American, as well as 9 percent of the top 10 percent highest-paid employees and 12 percent of the top 10 percent highest-paid female employees.

 

No. 8: Cox Communications

 

Also No. 25 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list

 

The media company notes that 33 percent of its female new hires are black/African American and 17 percent of promotions in management went to blacks/African Americans.

 

No. 9: Sodexho

 

Also No. 13 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list

 

This strong national diversity leader reports that 14 percent of promotions in management, 11 percent of its top 10 percent highest-paid employees, and 31 percent of new hires are black/African American.

 

No. 10: Allstate

Also No. 40 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list

 

A Top 50 mainstay, Allstate has a work force that's 17 percent black/African American and reports 21 percent of new hires are black/African American. In addition, 15 percent of promotions in management went to blacks/African Americans.

 



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