One of the most visible trends affecting the workplace is the increased diversity of
the United States’ labor force. Demographically speaking, about 70 percent of the U.S.
workforce was white in 2004. 89 That percentage is expected to drop to about 65 percent
by 2012. Meanwhile, the percentage of minorities in the workforce is expected to rise as
follows: African Americans (11 to 12 percent), Hispanics (13 to 15 percent), and Asians
(4 to 6 percent). Thus, by 2012, minority groups will make up one-third of the workforce.
Meanwhile, women have virtually matched men in terms of workforce percentages, with
53 percent of jobs filled by men and 47 percent by women. These statistics show that the
“white, male-dominated” workforce is becoming a thing of the past.