Global professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has announced plans to hire 10,000 Black and Latinx college students by 2026 to increase employee representation and corporate diversity.
PwC has set a goal of 35 percent Black and Latinx representation at all levels of employment from the level of company interns up to higher management. Upon employment, students will receive comprehensive training, up-skilling, and mentorship opportunities as part of the onboarding process.
The multinational firm explained that the hiring strategy has been developed to establish a workforce that more closely resembles the diversity within higher education and to actively support inclusion in corporate America.
Retention After Acquisition
The company’s plans do not only focus on recruitment. PwC said in a statement that all companies must foster a culture based on retaining talent. One of the initiatives it has developed toward this end is the Student Loan Paydown program (SLP), launched in 2015.
The company has paid off more than $40 million in student loan debt for 16,000 employees, among those many people of color.
Helping the Next Generation
PwC previously announced its intention to commit $125 million to help the next generation of professionals prepare to take on the evolving job market through digital up-skill training and more.
The investment will be directed towards developing a new curriculum and acquiring necessary resources and technology. Students can also expect access to various training platforms that will help them look for jobs and “instill the job-readiness needed to showcase their skills, story and contributions to potential employers.”
“Recruiters need to be in it for the long haul by identifying diverse talent earlier and help cultivate strong tech skills to prepare students to be competitive in today’s digital economy,” PwC US Talent Acquisition Leader Rod Adams said.