Dive Brief:

• A new National Skills Coalition report explains why "advancing racial equity is an economic and moral imperative" by examining racial and ethnic disparities in acquiring an education and highlighting the systemic obstacles to equitable employment and workforce training.
• The report recommends organizations adopt nine workplace policies that, among other things: Set racial equity goals in career development plans, with strategies for achieving those goals; invest in a framework of technical assistance and guidance for developing frontline and postsecondary career-counseling staff and ensure that they're proactively addressing racial disparities; and address occupational segregation and make hiring practices more unbiased.
• "Advancing racial equity in workforce training is good for our economy and is also the right thing to do," states the report. "Our society will be truly fair and just when people of every race and ethnicity have what they need to thrive, and can contribute to their highest and best potential, no matter the color of their skin or where they live."

Dive Insight:

The National Skills Coalition report lays out a kind of blueprint employers can follow in mapping out plans for creating a culture of equity and inclusion in the workplace. As organizations endeavor to foster such cultures, they may find themselves experiencing some positive side effects. As employers become more inclusive in their employment practices, they may have an easier time filling roles because of their enlarged talent pools. It's also been reported that employers with more diverse workforces experience better rates of innovation.

Employers and organizations have been trying to figure out ways to authentically improve their diversity and inclusion plans. CodePath.org, a computer science nonprofit, held a virtual career fair to attract more diverse job candidates into tech careers. This kind of event allows a more diverse pool of candidates to attend and interact with employers, experts previously told HR Dive. Holding recruiting events online can enable people who lack the time, money and means of travel to learn about employment opportunities and get to know recruiters.