A newly published Corporate Diversity Profile report by Chicago United shows minority representation in the executive ranks in the Top 50 was consistent between 2012 and 2016, and experienced a 5% spike in 2018.
However, when looking at the breakdown of ethnicities within minority representation on boards in Chicago, the data indicates people of color compete against each other for leadership positions, rather than diversity and equality growing with more people of color in leadership positions – for instance:
- African Americans maintained the largest percentage of representation on boards staying at 8 percent from 2016 and 2018
However Hispanic representation on boards decreased from 4 percent to 3 percent and Asians increased by 2 percent to 3 percent from 2016 to 2018 (see Figure 2 on Page 8).