Scientific Opinion Poll: New Mexico Small Businesses Hire Diverse Entry-Level Workforce, More Can Be Done to Increase Diversity in Upper-Management Employees

For Immediate Release: 
Wednesday, October 14, 2015

New Mexico small business owners hire diverse set of entry-level employees; more can be done to increase the number of women and minorities in upper-management positions

Washington, DC—A scientific opinion poll released today shows small business hiring of lower-level employees is diverse, but more can be done to increase diversity in the hiring of upper-management employees.

The poll, conducted Jan. 15-Feb. 3, 2015, by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research on behalf of Small Business Majority, New Mexico small businesses hire a diverse set of employees among their non-management level staff. The poll found 75 percent of New Mexico small businesses have at least one female employee, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) have at least one Hispanic employee, 16 percent have at least one American Indian or Alaskan native employee, 16 percent have at least one employee with a disability, 11 percent have at least one African-American employee, 3 percent have at least one Asian or Pacific Islander employee and 31 percent report having at least one other non-white employee.

"Small businesses make up 96 percent of businesses in New Mexico and employ more than half of the state's private sector workers," said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. "New Mexico small businesses can benefit from hiring more minorities and women, especially at the management level, because having a diverse set of employees can bring together new ideas, foster creativity and spur innovation."

While small businesses have a diverse workforce among their lower-level staff, women and minorities are underrepresented at the management level. Among management or non-entry level staff, 38 percent are women, 25 percent are Hispanic, 6 percent are American Indian or Alaskan native, 4 percent are Asian or Pacific Islander, 2 percent are African-American, 2 percent have a disability and 13 percent represent another non-white minority. However, it's important to note that many small businesses do not have management positions outside the owner, and more than 81 percent poll respondents have 10 or fewer employees.

Some New Mexico business owners plan to make it a priority to improve diversity among their high-level employees. The poll found 27 percent plan to hire or promote in order to increase the diversity of their high-level workforce within the next few years.

"It's encouraging to see the findings that small business owners are hiring a diverse set of employees that reflects the demographics of their communities," said Loren Harris, director of family economic security for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. "However, this polling shows there's more to do around education and understanding the benefits of increasing diversity at the management level for small businesses."

This poll reflects a telephone survey of 500 small business owners from around the country with an oversample of 103 small businesses in New Mexico. Funding for the poll was provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

70-410| 70-488| 70-461| MB5-705| 200-120| 70-410| 70-488| 70-461| MB5-705| 200-120| 70-486| 70-412| MB2-704| 70-483| 70-480| 300-101| 70-417| CCD-410| C4040-251| 1Z0-060| 070-410| 70-347| C4040-252 MB5-705 70-410 C4040-250 70-461 200-120 70-486 810-401 70-483 70-417 640-554 70-488 CCA-500 N10-005 C4040-252 MB5-705 70-410 C4040-250 70-461 200-120 70-486 810-401 70-483 70-417 640-554 70-488 MB2-704 70-480 70-346 1Z0-061 AWS-SysOps C4040-251 70-410 70-488 70-461 MB5-705 200-120 70-486 70-411 70-480 70-346 220-802 PMP 70-488 MB6-703 70-462 1V0-601 2V0-621 070-480 300-115 70-414 C4040-252 MB5-705 70-410 C4040-250 70-461 200-120 70-486 810-401 70-483 640-554 70-410 70-488 70-461 MB5-705 200-120 70-486 70-411 70-480 70-346 200-120 400-051 NS0-157 400-201 70-410 CISSP 400-101 70-411 70-461 220-802 PMP 70-488 MB6-703 70-462 1V0-601 2V0-621 070-480 300-115 70-414 642-874 101-400 070-486 MB5-705 AWS-SYSOPS 9L0-012 CISA 3002 CISM 70-533 2V0-620 200-120 400-051 NS0-157 400-201 70-410 070-410 CISSP 400-101 70-411 200-120 400-051 ns0-157 400-201 70-410 070-410 cissp 400-101 70-411 70-461 220-802 70-533 70-532 70-243 E10-001 VCP-550 1Z0-062 70-466 200-101 70-489 70-461 220-802 PMP 70-488 MB6-703 70-462 1V0-601 2V0-621 070-480 300-115 70-414 642-874 200-120 200-120 400-051 NS0-157 400-201 70-410 070-410 CISSP 400-101 70-411 70-461 220-802 PMP 70-488 MB6-703 200-120 400-051 NS0-157 400-201 70-410 070-410 CISSP 400-101 70-411 70-461 220-802 PMP 70-488 MB6-703 70-462 1V0-601 2V0-621 070-480 300-115 70-414

For the full New Mexico poll report, please visit:
http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/small-business-research/diversity/NM

For the national poll report, please visit:
http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/small-business-research/diversity

About Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing America's 28 million small businesses today. Since 2005, we have actively engaged small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and have delivered information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong, sustainable economy. We are a team of more than 30 working from our 11 offices in Washington, D.C. and 9 states, with a network of more than 45,000 small business owners and more than 2,000 business organizations, along with a formal strategic partnership program of more than 125 business organizations, enabling us to reach more than 500,000 entrepreneurs. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about issues including taxes, healthcare, access to capital, entrepreneurship, workforce development, clean energy and immigration. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.