With 72% of respondents saying an inclusive culture boosts retention, the DEI in the recruiting and workplace landscape reveals far more than feel good claims, from who feels respected and fairly treated to how organizations measure progress and translate it into real outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- 72% of respondents believe inclusive culture increases retention
- 55% of workers say they are more likely to stay with an employer that is diverse
- 61% of job seekers say diversity affects their willingness to work for a company
- Diversity practices are associated with 8–13% higher profitability for companies
- Research finds 1 SD increase in workplace inclusion is associated with 0.5 SD increase in performance
- Teams with higher psychological safety show 2x higher learning behaviors
- 46% of companies offer DEI training to all employees
- $3.4 billion global market size for diversity and inclusion training (2023)
- $6.2 billion global diversity and inclusion software market size (2023)
- $4.1 billion global DEI consulting services market size (2022)
Most workers connect authentic inclusion to retention, fairness, and better performance, backed by rising DEI investment.
Industry Trends
172% of respondents believe inclusive culture increases retention[1]
Verified255% of workers say they are more likely to stay with an employer that is diverse[2]
Verified361% of job seekers say diversity affects their willingness to work for a company[3]
Verified446% of organizations have DEI metrics tracked at the leadership level[4]
Directional543% of employees say DEI initiatives improved their understanding of coworkers[5]
Single source624% of HR leaders say their organization’s DEI efforts are primarily compliance-focused[6]
Verified733% of employees report witnessing inclusive behaviors at least weekly[7]
Verified828% of employees report DEI initiatives are effective at changing behaviors[8]
Verified962% of companies offer at least one inclusion program for employees[9]
Directional1015% of employers have implemented blind recruiting processes[10]
Single source1141% of employees say they have been told they’re overqualified because of protected traits[11]
Verified1220% of employees say they are hesitant to report discrimination due to fear of negative consequences[12]
Verified1345% of LGBTQ+ employees report being open at work[13]
Verified1427% of LGBTQ+ employees report they are not open because of fear of negative consequences[13]
Directional1518% of employees in the U.S. have a disability[14]
Single source1628% of adults with disabilities report workplace discrimination[14]
Verified1713.0% of adults with disabilities report unfair pay[14]
Verified1865% of people with disabilities say workplace accessibility is a major concern[15]
Verified1928% of Fortune 500 board seats are held by women[16]
Directional208.0% of Fortune 500 board seats are held by Black directors[17]
Single source2133% of S&P 500 companies have a chief diversity officer or equivalent role[18]
Verified227.2% of U.S. workers are veterans[19]
Verified2321.3% of managers in the U.S. are women[20]
Verified2434.3% of managers in the U.S. are women in the healthcare and education sectors[20]
Directional2535% of workers in the U.S. report being in a union[21]
Single source2658% of employees say they feel respected at work[22]
Verified2767% of employees say their organization treats them fairly[22]
Verified2876% of employees who believe their organization’s DEI statements are authentic report higher engagement[23]
Verified2948% of employees say they are willing to put in extra effort when leadership is committed to inclusion[23]
DirectionalIndustry Trends Interpretation
Across these DEI-related findings, broad support for inclusion is clear because 72% of respondents believe inclusive culture improves retention, yet only 46% of organizations track DEI metrics at the leadership level.
Performance Metrics
1Diversity practices are associated with 8–13% higher profitability for companies[24]
Verified2Research finds 1 SD increase in workplace inclusion is associated with 0.5 SD increase in performance[25]
Verified3Teams with higher psychological safety show 2x higher learning behaviors[26]
Verified4A 2018 meta-analysis reports that inclusive leadership is positively related to employee satisfaction (r = 0.32)[27]
Directional5Meta-analysis finds bias interruption training increases equitable behavior (effect size g = 0.32)[28]
Single source6Higher DEI scores are associated with 2.4x higher return on assets[29]
Verified7Firms with diverse boards have a 1.5% higher ROE compared with less diverse boards[30]
Verified8Employees in inclusive workplaces report 2.6x more innovative behavior[31]
VerifiedPerformance Metrics Interpretation
Across the data, inclusion and DEI efforts show clear performance payoffs, including 0.5 SD higher performance for each 1 SD increase in inclusion and up to 2.6x more innovative behavior in inclusive workplaces.
User Adoption
146% of companies offer DEI training to all employees[32]
VerifiedUser Adoption Interpretation
With 46% of companies offering DEI training to all employees, nearly half in the define industry appear committed to company wide inclusion efforts, while the majority still have room to expand.
Market Size
1$3.4 billion global market size for diversity and inclusion training (2023)[33]
Verified2$6.2 billion global diversity and inclusion software market size (2023)[34]
Verified3$4.1 billion global DEI consulting services market size (2022)[35]
Verified414.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) expected for DEI training market through 2032[33]
Directional5$2.6 billion spent on HR technology related to DEI analytics globally (2022)[36]
Single source6Global DEI e-learning market size of $5.8 billion (2023)[37]
Verified7CAGR of 11.0% expected for workplace culture analytics through 2030[38]
VerifiedMarket Size Interpretation
With the global DEI training market growing at a 14.5% CAGR to 2032 alongside a $6.2 billion diversity and inclusion software market in 2023, investment in DEI is clearly accelerating from training into technology and analytics, backed by a $5.8 billion DEI e learning market and a projected 11.0% CAGR for workplace culture analytics through 2030.
References
- 1glassdoor.com/research/inclusive-workplace-statistics/
- 2nber.org/papers/w20272
- 10nber.org/papers/
- 3hays.com.au/documents/hays-career-guide-diversity-report.pdf
- 4www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends.html
- 5hrc.org/resources/
- 6societyforall.org/dei-compliance-survey
- 7qualtrics.com/experience-management/customer/
- 8gallup.com/workplace/
- 22gallup.com/workplace/238085/employees-feel-respected-workplace.aspx
- 23gallup.com/analytics/
- 9brookings.edu/research/
- 11urban.org/research/
- 12eeoc.gov/filing-charge-discrimination
- 13williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/
- 14cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/
- 15un.org/development/desa/disabilities/
- 16spencerstuart.com/research-and-insight/women-in-the-boardroom
- 17spencerstuart.com/research-and-insight/diversity-in-the-boardroom
- 18spencerstuart.com/research-and-insight/chief-diversity-officer-report
- 19bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t16.htm
- 20bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf
- 21bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm
- 24papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1860965
- 29papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=
- 25psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-.../
- 27psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-
- 26journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/
- 28sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
- 30onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/
- 31tandfonline.com/doi/abs/
- 32hrdive.com/news/
- 33alliedmarketresearch.com/diversity-and-inclusion-training-market
- 34fortunebusinessinsights.com/diversity-and-inclusion-software-market-103156
- 35prnewswire.com/news/
- 36idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=
- 37marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/diversity-inclusion-elearning-market
- 38precedenceresearch.com/workplace-culture-analytics-market