What Kinds of Firms Hire and Promote Women and Blacks? A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Research which reports the effects of global and contextual organizational characteristics on patterns of female and black participation in organizational work forces is reviewed. Explanations of work-force composition include economic and political conditions internal and external to the organization. Findings are organized and summarized by means of twelve propositional. statements. Moderate support exists to link formalization, occupational composition of the work force, and community values to the sexual and racial composition of the organization's work force. Centralization, executive characteristics, unionization, community labor-force composition, and community supply of labor have also been linked to work-force composition—but less frequently or less consistently. Slack resources, demand for labor, visibility of operations, and dependence on government contracts also affect work-force compositions—but indirectly. The review concludes by noting limitations in the existing literature and by making suggestions regarding future research.

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