To remedy the underrepresentation of Hispanics in the federal workforce, the Clinton administration recently issued an Executive Order. This executive order is a call to action, a wake-up call to take more proactive steps to ensure that Hispanics are better represented in the federal sector. Hispanics remain the only minority group that remains underrepresented in the Federal government, said Jorge Ponce, a federal employee for the last twenty-five years. In his new position, Ponce is responsible for developing strategies to recruit, hire, develop and retain all groups in the U.S. population.
Ponce explains that the majority of federal jobs are currently in the administrative category.
However, he pointed out that there are also many jobs in the professional category, which require specialized university degrees. Ponce implied that one of the reason for the low representation of Hispanics at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the result of having an equal number of administrative and professional positions. It depends on the commitment that Hispanics in the higher grades have towards mentoring Hispanic employees who are trying to move up the ladder to the executive ranks. Ponce also adds that it depends on the barriers faced by Hispanics on their quest to get promoted and on their familiarity and use of the complaints process when facing discrimination. I ve been helped in my professional career by many individuals of various hues and creeds, but I d relied on my own initiative when the help was not forthcoming.