Pennsylvania Casino Diversity Report Shows Employment Demographics Unchanged

Posted on: October 3, 2022, 10:20h. 

Last updated on: October 5, 2022, 05:30h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More

Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

The Pennsylvania casino industry continues to employ about as many diverse people as the state’s overall demographics suggest it should.

On Friday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) released its 15th diversity report. The annual review is required under the state’s commercial gaming law passed in July 2004.

The PGCB diversity report for the 2021/22 fiscal year shows that the land-based casinos largely maintained their diverse workforces over the past 12 months.

Mozelle Daniels, director of diversity and special counsel to the PGCB, says the state’s casinos employed 14,829 people at the end of FY21/22. Some 61% said they identify as Caucasian. The same rate was conveyed in the FY20/21 Diversity Report.

Casinos Maintain Diversity

According to the latest census, Pennsylvania is home to nearly 13 million people. Those who considered themselves “white alone” tallied 61.6%. That falls in line with the Caucasian employment rate for the state’s casinos.

Some 15% of casino workers identified as African American, and 7% said they were Hispanic. Pennsylvania casinos reported the same black and Hispanic employment rates in FY20/21. Thirteen percent said they were Asian, and the remaining 4% said they were “other.”

Diversity, equity, and inclusion has been and continues to be an ongoing noteworthy achievement of the entire industry,” Daniels said. “The PGCB remains committed to monitoring the activities of the Commonwealth’s licensed casinos in promoting diversity.”

During FY20/21, Pennsylvania casinos made gains in hiring more diverse people, as minority employment climbed 4% to 40% that year. Minorities represented 39% of the 14,829 people employed by the Pennsylvania casino industry in 2021/22.

Though diversity retracted by 1%, Daniels says the industry’s commitment to hiring more non-white people remains in focus. The diversity chief added that casinos are encouraged to work with vendors and suppliers that share similar diversity hiring goals.

Gender Goals Short of State Makeup

Along with racial goals, Pennsylvania casinos seek a level gender playing field. Men accounted for 8,478 of the 14,829 gaming industry jobs in the FY21/22 diversity report — more than 57%. The census report shows that men account for only 49.4% of the population in Pennsylvania.

Finally, Pennsylvania casinos adhere to the state’s wishes that Keystone State residents be given preferential treatment in seeking jobs. Of the nearly 15K casino jobs, almost nine in 10 positions are held by a resident of the Commonwealth.