by Cristie Leondis

December 17, 2014

[RECAP] Twitter Chat: Real Talk on Millennials, Diversity and Today’s Business Landscape

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On Wednesday Dec. 17, Black Enterprise hosted a Twitter chat called “Real Talk on Millennials, Diversity and Today’s Business Landscape.” The chat centered on how millennials view diversity, their multibillion-dollar buying power and how they can have a voice in the way companies tap into that buying power. Moderated by Janell Hazelwood, associate managing editor of digital at Black Enterprise, the chat also featured guests the Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Lincoln Stephens, co-founder of The Marcus Graham Project.

Millennials, whose ages range from age of 18-33, were active participants in the chat as well. While the panel discussed their opinions on diversity, real percentages and numbers were also provided on the issue.

Here’s a snapshot of stats on millennials and diversity:

• According to Pwc, a leading professionals services network, by 2020, millennials will make up 50% of the global workforce.
• According to Pew Research, 43% of millennial adults are non-white, the highest share of any generation.
• Pew Research also notes that the racial makeup of today’s young adults is one of the key factors in explaining why about 32% of millennials say they’re more financially dependent on their parents than their parents were at the same age.
• According to the Center for American Progress, because of their diversity, millennials’ attitudes about and experiences with race are dramatically different from earlier generations, citing 94% having “universal acceptance” of others, 94 accepting of interracial dating and marriage
• Also according to the center, millennials are twice as likely to completely disagree with the statement, “I don’t have much in common with people of other races” as Gen X’ers were in the late 1980s.

View more insights from Jackson, Stephens and participants below: