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Representation of Women, Minorities in Top Jobs Up
Health, Education, and Welfare Department officials are studying the University's recently completed progress report on its equal employment opportunity programs.
Preparation for the report began last winter when each staff member was asked to fill out a "minority group identification form." It is basically a survey of the racial/ethnic composition of the staff.
Though University officials still are analyzing the data for use in projecting goals and identifying areas of concern, the report confirms progress in the hiring of women and members of minority groups, as well as the continued upward movement of these employees into more responsible jobs.
Of 14,879 individuals the report numbers as University employees (exclusive of student and temporary workers) 7,170 or 48.2 per cent of them are women. Last year, 47 per cent of the staff was female.
This year 1,942 persons have identified themselves or have been counted within their departments as members of a minority group-- whether black, Oriental, American Indian, or Spanish American surnamed --or 13.1 per cent. This is a slight increase over last year, when 13 per cent of all staff members were members of a minority group.
Despite the relatively small gains in these total figures, significant increases are reported in the top employment classifications, while, correspondingly, significant decreases are evident in the lowest category.
The figures indicate a general upgrading of women and minority groups throughout the University, according to figures gathered by the academic affairs and personnel offices.
In 1969 there were 2,008 women in 7,386 executive, professional, administrative, and instructional staff positions, 27.2 per cent of the total. This year there are 2,593 women in 7,906 top position, or 32.8 per cent of the total, reflecting better than a 20 per cent increase in the ratio of women to total top level staff positions.
The corresponding figures for minority group employment also are encouraging. In 1969 there were 418 minority group members among those 7,386 upper level positions, or 5.7 per cent of the total. This year there are 575 minority group individuals in the 7,906 top spots, 7.3 per cent of the total. Their "share of the market" improved by more than 28 per cent over the year.
Within the minority group classification, the percentage of blacks in the upper level jobs at the University has been increasing at an even faster rate, according to the report.
In 1968 black employees held 102 executive, professional, administrative, and instructional positions; in 1969 they held 158; and this year, some 296 blacks occupy top level positions at the University.
Although the total number of staff positions increased by 14 per cent between 1968 and 1969 and only 7 per cent between 1969 and the current year, the proportion of
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blacks in those positions increased by 55 per cent in the first interval and 87 per cent since last year.Over the past seven years during which figures have been collected on minority group employment at the University, black staff members have made up from 9.7 to 10.5 per cent of the total. This year's report shows that percentage has increased to 10.8, or 1,607 blacks out of a total staff of 14,879.
Concurrent with the entry of greater numbers of women and other minority group representatives into the top employment classifications, fewer numbers are showing up now in the lower employment classifications, particularly the service/maintenance category.
In 1969 of 3,292 service/maintenance positions, 1,367 or 41.6 per cent were held by women and 1,112 or 33.8 per cent were held by members of minority groups. This year, of 2,977 total positions, 1,189 or 39.9 per cent are held by women, and 904 or 30.4 per cent are held by minority group representatives.
The report also provides comparisons in the technical and office classifications. Women hold 47.1 per cent of technical jobs this year, down slightly from 47.6 per cent last year. The percentage of minority group employment in that area, however, stands at 13.9 this year, up from 13.7 last year.
In the office classifications, women hold 95.6 per cent of the jobs this year, up from 91.9 per cent last year; minority group members occupy 10.9 per cent of those positions, up from 9 per cent in 1969.
The University has collected figures on minority group employment since 1962.