Dive Brief:

• A new report from Glassdoor says that 35% of decision makers plan to increase their diversity and inclusion efforts when it comes to hiring. The report reveals “job candidate demographics are one of the most important recruiting metrics for hiring decision makers.”
• The push to diversify candidate pools, and ultimately hires, for the coming year emphasizes the need for inclusion across all talent streams. The 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) released by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation showed that a record-breaking number of businesses have earned its top score of 100. 609 companies, up from 517 last year, have earned the highest marks in corporate leadership in the group’s 16-year history.
• Studies show there is a return on investment for diversity hiring. McKinsey reported gender diverse companies are 15% more likely to outperform the national industry median, while ethnically diverse companies are 35% more likely to outperform.

Dive Insight:

With unemployment nearing record lows at the same time that employers are facing a talent gap, companies are looking to expand their candidate pools.

A number of employers have found ways to do so in inclusive and successful ways. For example, in 2016, EY initiated a neurodiversity pilot – targeting individuals on the autism spectrum for hiring in tech and accounting positions. To accommodate these employees, EY offers specialized training to help managers communicate effectively with the group.

In addition to higher performance metrics, brand loyalty is high among companies that are perceived to be diverse and inclusive in the marketplace. As more companies recognize the value of a diverse workforce to serve its diverse customer-base, these initiatives will likely become even more popular.