Top 10 Realities of Diversity in Business

1. Worldwide, there are 5.79 billion people with ideas to share; 4,000 languages in which to communicate; 255 nationalities with different perspectives and goals; 20 major religions with unique beliefs and customs. *

2. Older Americans spend more than $800 billion annually and by the year 2050, people over 65 will be 20% of the U.S. population. **

3. In San Luis Obispo County, the number of residents age 50+ has increased from 26% to 31% of the total population. **

4. Modern Maturity was the #1 subscription in San Luis Obispo County in the year 2003. +

5. Women spend 85% of the consumer dollar. *

6. By the end of this decade, 85% of all new workers will be women, minorities and immigrants.

7. Over 19 million skilled people with disabilities are unemployed in America.

8. By 2000, Hispanics, African Americans and Asian Americans had an annual spending power of $600 billion. Hispanic purchasing power alone is projected to reach $638 billion by 2010. *

9. Spanish language media has increased substantially over the past 10 years. Due to the increased Hispanic population, the number of newspapers has almost doubled, at an increase of 90%; the number of TV stations is up 39%; and the number of radio stations is up 28%. ++

10. In San Luis Obispo County, the percentage of Hispanics has increased from 14% of the total population to 17% over the last decade. **

* Knight Ridder Diversity Training Materials
** UCSB Economic Forecast Project, 2003

+ Radio Advertising Bureau
++ Neilson Media Research