Intel, SAP, other tech companies pledge to get more inclusive in hiring

Intel, SAP, Lyft, Spotify and VMware are among over 30 Silicon Valley companies that on Wednesday signed a pledge that they would take action to make their technology workforce "fully representative of the American people, as soon as possible."

The absence of diversity in the tech industry in Silicon Valley was highlighted about two years ago by civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who pressed companies to release data on their employment of blacks, Hispanics and women. Many tech companies, like Google and Intel, released hiring data but it was found that their workforces were predominantly male and white.

Under pressure from Jackson to set specific goals, some companies announced their plans for promoting inclusion. Intel, for example, made a pledge to invest $300 million on diversity and inclusion and announced a goal to reach full representation of women and underrepresented minorities in its U.S. workforce by 2020. Google also announced a $150 million expenditure to get more women and other minorities into the tech industry.

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