The global workplace is rapidly changing, with employers increasingly recognizing the value of a diverse and inclusive environment. This shift is driven by the potential to expand talent availability and foster innovation. The planned implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion measures, 2025-2030, highlights a significant strategic focus by organizations. These measures aim to create fairer opportunities, enhance belonging, and attract a wider range of skilled individuals, which is crucial for future business success.
This section outlines the growing emphasis employers place on diversity, equity, and inclusion. It details the current rate of adoption and its perceived impact on securing talent.
Employers now place increased importance on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. This focus connects to a growing understanding of its ability to increase talent availability. Tapping into diverse talent pools is a top five business practice for finding talent. In 2023, it ranked eleventh, showing a rapid rise in significance.
This section provides statistics on how widely diversity, equity, and inclusion measures are currently implemented across different organizations.
Eighty-three percent of surveyed employers have put diversity, equity, and inclusion measures in place. This is up from 67% in 2023. Larger organizations show a stronger trend. Nearly all companies with over 50,000 employees (95%) and those in Northern America (96%) have these measures. Companies in lower-middle-income economies (75%) and smaller organizations (73%) are less likely to implement diversity, equity and inclusion measures.
This section details the specific types of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and strategies employers plan to implement over the next five years. The planned implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion measures, 2025-2030, shows a strong future commitment.
| Planned DEI Measure | Anticipated Adoption Rate (Next 5 Years) |
| DEI Training for Managers and Staff | 51% of employers plan to implement DEI training programmes to build inclusive workplace practices. |
| Targeted Recruitment, Retention & Progression | 48% of organizations intend to strengthen inclusive hiring, career progression, and retention initiatives. |
| DEI Goals, Targets & Quotas | 42% of employers expect to establish measurable DEI goals, targets, or quotas over the next five years. |
| Pay Equity Reviews & Salary Audits | 39% of employers plan to conduct pay equity reviews and salary audits to promote fair compensation. |
| Anti-Harassment Protocols | 33% of organizations will strengthen anti-harassment policies and workplace safety measures. |
| Support for Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities | 26% of employers intend to expand workplace support and flexible policies for employees with caregiving responsibilities. |
| Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) | 22% of employers plan to support or expand Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to foster inclusion and employee engagement. |
| Hiring DEI Officers | 15% of organizations expect to hire dedicated DEI officers to lead diversity and inclusion initiatives. |
Most employers (51%) plan to run diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings for managers and staff. This remains the most common program element. Targeted recruitment, retention, and progression initiatives follow closely at 48%. Diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, targets, and quotas are rapidly growing. Forty-two percent plan to adopt these, up from one-quarter in 2023. Other planned measures include pay equity reviews (39%), anti-harassment protocols (33%), and support for caregivers (26%). Hiring DEI officers and supporting ERGs are less common.