Building Chicago's Inclusive Tech Future
Learn moreSkilled tech jobs are fast-growing and high-paying. They lift individuals and grow our
economy. But companies struggle to fill these roles while Black and Latin people have largely
been kept on the sidelines. Chicago has an opportunity: Reduce race-based inequality and accelerate economic growth by diversifying the tech workforce. This is Chicagoland's first effort to understand the full
picture of what it will take to make Chicago the most inclusive tech city in the country. This
isn't just a company issue or a pipeline problem: there is critical work to do from grammar school
to the C-suite.
Now, let’s make it happen!
Why Tech Matters
Tech jobs off the best combination of high wages and growing demand. And tech talent is critical to Chicago's economic vitality over the next 30 years.
Why We Built This
We need a shared source of truth about the leakages in the tech talent pipeline and how policymakers, businesses and educators can most effectively contribute to improvement.
What the Data Shows
We fail Black and Latino Chicagoans at every stage from elementary school to career, providing weak math and science foundations, few opportunities for enrichment and acceleration, inequitable college access, and closed doors at our companies.
What is Success
The ultimate goal is for Chicagoland's tech workforce to reflect the racial, ethnic and gender demographics of the region. For now, we celebrate the collective effort to confront the inequities the data reveals.
Scorecard
The Equity Index score of 0 – 100 measures the gap between how we are serving different racial and ethnic populations on tech career pathways. An Equity Index score of 100 would indicate that we are providing equal access to all groups and serving them equally well. Scores further from 100 indicate our “distance from equity,” with Black and Latino populations receiving less access to opportunity and experiencing worse outcomes. Think of any score below 90 as a major concern.
K-8
Chicago Public SchoolsHigh School
Chicago Public SchoolsCollege
IllinoisCareer
Chicago MSAWe believe Access, Proficiency and Excellence are key components of the overall Equity goal. Each component’s Equity score is based on 1 – 4 underlying metrics and uses the same methodology as the overall Equity Index score.
Access
How much access do Black and Latino communities have to the resources and opportunities necessary to succeed on Computer Science pathways?
Proficiency
How well are we preparing Black and Latino students to pursue and succeed on Computer Science pathways?
Excellence
How well are we preparing Black and Latino students to succeed at elite levels on Computer Science pathways?
Black and Latino Chicagoans are dramatically underrepresented in high-paid tech roles after receiving fewer quality learning opportunities in school and college
47% vs 14%
Nearly half the Cook County population is Black or Latino, but those groups get only 14% of the high-skilled tech jobs.
42% vs 22%
Illinois college graduates in computing are 22% Black or Latino despite being 42% of all Illinois high school graduates.
9,000+
We’re failing kids early. Chicago needs to ensure 9,100 more Black and Latino 8th graders meet math proficiency standards to close gaps with other groups… And we need to get 5,500 more Black and Latino 8th graders to advanced standards to close gaps.
5,000+
Access to accelerated opportunities is inequitable: In order to close gaps, Chicago needs to get 5,500 more 8th Black and Latino 8th graders to advanced math standards, and enroll 5,100 more Black and Latino students into AP Computer Science.
What can you do to help?
Every organization can play a role in building a more inclusive TechChicago
Contact UsOur Contributing Partner
