One of the reasons for this has been the lack of diversity in corporate America.   By not developing a diverse workforce from the top down, African, Hispanic (Latino), and Asian Americans are unfairly relegated to lower-skilled, lower-pay positions and are not able to fullfill their true potential.  Many corporations have recognized that diversity contributes to the bottom line by:  making it easier to retain good employees, lowering costs by developing skills in-house, and developing a reputation that helps attract new employees.   This is especially important with the economy doing so well, and the demand for skilled labor at record levels.

If you are an African, Hispanic (Latino), or Asian American trying to advance your career, working for a company that values workplace diversity is extremely important.  This will give you a good indication whether your employer will value your contributions, grant you promotions, train you to take on more responsibility, and pay you accordingly.

What is diversity?  Here are some key indicators that help provide a proper definition for diversity:

• Diversity at the Officer, Board of Director, and Senior management levels

• Diversity amongst the highest salaried employees in the company

• Diversity amongst the company's workforce as a whole

• Recruiting for new hires in Ethnic American publications

• Recruiting at Ethnic American cultural or professional events

• Membership in Ethnic American professional organizations

• Charitable contributions to Ethnic American organizations