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Embracing and harnessing diversity in the US workforce: what have we learned?

  • Mark Pope
Article
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Abstract

Cultural diversity in the US includes race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of culture. American ethnic and racial minorities currently account for 31% of the US population, and growing. Their career development issues include the barriers they regularly encounter, such as discrimination; inequitable access to resources; and language, religious, and cultural differences. Career counselors and vocational psychologists in the US have been actively studying these issues for many years and have some successes to report.

Keywords

Culture Diversity Workforce discrimination 

Résumé

Comprendre et exploiter la diversité de la population active des Etats-Unis: ce que nous avons appris. La diversité culturelle des Etats-Unis inclut la « race » , l’ethnicité, le sexe, le handicap, l’âge, l’orientation sexuelle, la religion ainsi que d’autres aspects culturels. Les minorités ethniques et raciales américaines représentent actuellement 31% de la population des Etats-Unis, et elles sont en croissance. Leurs problèmes de développement de carrière incluent les obstacles qu’elles rencontrent régulièrement, telle que la discrimination; l’accès inéquitable aux ressources; ainsi que la langue, la religion, et les différences culturelles. Aux Etats-Unis, les conseillers en orientation et les psychologues spécialisés dans les questions vocationnelles ont participé activement à l’étude de ces questions depuis de nombreuses années et ont quelques réussites à signaler.

Zusammenfassung

Annehmen und Nutzung der Diversität in US amerikanischen Arbeitskräften: Was haben wir gelernt. Kulturelle Vielfalt in den USA umfasst Rasse, ethnische Herkunft, Geschlecht, Behinderung, Alter, sexuelle Orientierung, Religion und andere Aspekte der Kultur. Amerikanische ethnische und rassische Minderheiten machen derzeit 31% der US-Bevölkerung aus, Tendenz steigend. Ihre Themen der beruflichen Entwicklung beinhalten die Hindernisse, die sie regelmäßig antreffen, wie Diskriminierung, ungleicher Zugang zu Ressourcen, sowie Sprache, religiöse und kulturelle Unterschiede. Laufbahnberater/innen und berufliche Psychologen/innen in den USA haben diese Probleme seit vielen Jahren aktiv untersucht und einige Erfolge zu vermelden.

Resumen

Aceptación y Gestión de la Diversidad en el ámbito laboral en los Estados Unidos de América: qué hemos aprendido. La diversidad cultural en Estados Unidos se define por variables como raza, etnicidad, género, minusvalía, edad, orientación sexual, religión y otros aspectos de la cultura. Las minorías étnicas y raciales norteamericanas constituyen actualmente el 31% de la población, cifra que va en aumento. En el desarrollo de su carrera se enfrentan a barreras como la discriminación, desigualdad de acceso a los recursos y diferencias culturales, de lengua y religión. Muchos orientadores profesionales y psicólogos vocacionales de los Estados Unidos han estudiado y trabajado sobre esos aspectos durante los últimos años obteniendo éxitos, sobre los que se informa en este artículo.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Division of Counseling and Family TherapyOne University BoulevardSaint LouisUSA
  2. 2.University of MissouriSaint LouisUSA

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