The United States released census data last week with headline-grabbing results that are sure to freak out white Americans. Because by 2050, minorities will be the majority in the United States.
Of course, this has some pretty big implications too for the workplace. And buried in the stats is another interesting figure. The percentage of the population that is able to work in 2050 is expected to drop to 57%.
When I think of how little diversity I see in the workforce, I am grateful that I won't be working in 2050. In 2008, it seems that we have difficulties dealing with race and equality in the workplace, how will things be in 2008?
For that reason, it seems that perhaps a little more flexibility and sensitivity are in order. While many people are thinking that these statistics refer solely to African-Americans and Hispanics, these aren't the only minorities in the U.S.
2050 is still a long ways off; it seems that each generation is slightly more tolerant than the previous one. Fortunately, that leaves us some time to get our act together and learn to work together as a people, instead of continually applying labels and stereotypes.
