The Detroit Regional Chamber and the Detroit Regional Partnership have recently unveiled their third update to the Detroit Regional Dashboard, a comprehensive collection of metrics that provide insights into economic and social trends. This Dashboard has brought to light a significant racial discrepancy in STEM occupations.
In 2023, Black or African Americans in STEM occupations were higher in the Detroit Region (9.1%) compared to the national rate (8.0%), but racial gaps remain. Among the two largest racial groups in the Detroit Region, the STEM workforce is made up of 73% white and 9% Black or African American employees despite Black or African Americans making up 20% of the Region’s adult population.
This gap in the industry is impossible to ignore. Several obstacles play a part in the numbers we see today, including educational, economic, discrimination, and bias. This is a complex issue that stems from years of structural barriers that must be addressed. MichAuto proactively confronts this issue in collaboration with all facets of the industry through research, policy advocacy, and educational initiatives.
Recently, MichAuto partnered with the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion, and Advancement for a DEI industry study that focused on gender and racial diversity in the automotive and mobility industry and how employers can implement best practices to attract diverse talent, retain existing talent, improve overall culture, and build a talent development process.
The study found that women make up 24% of the industry workforce versus 47% of the total U.S. workforce. The report also found that Black or African American employees comprise approximately 14% of the total workforce but only 7% of the Executive, Senior Leadership, and Manager roles.
As we work to shed awareness on the gaps within the industry, MichAuto also advocates for talent and workforce development in Lansing. As part of our stated policy priorities, we are working to reduce barriers and create additional pathways to employment to support the jobs of the future. To achieve this, MichAuto advocates for federal-level immigration reform, such as expanding worker visa access to bring more high-skilled workers to Michigan and supports reviewing the state’s criminal justice laws to support citizens entering or re-entering the workforce to foster greater productivity.
Our talent team also participates in the Detroit Drives Degrees Community College Collaborative (D3C3), an initiative of the Detroit Regional Chamber that is committed to “increase postsecondary attainment in Michigan to 60% and reduce the racial equity attainment gap by half by 2030.” Within D3C3, our team oversees the mobility pillar, focused on reskilling, credit for prior learning, mobility internships, and curriculum development.
Ethnic and racial diversity is critical for the mobility and automotive fields to continue to thrive. MichAuto is committed to making strides toward equitable change through our work and using our position to address racial discrepancies and promote the industry as an opportunity for everyone.