Dwindling DEI Job Opportunities in Corporate America
Veteran Executive Navigating Corporate America's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Exodus
Once a highly coveted position, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) roles are now under attack, leaving professionals in this field twiddling their thumbs. NPR business correspondent Maria Aspan delves into the story of one seasoned executive who's been on a job hunt for nearly a year. This gripping tale unfolds from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Candace Byrdsong Williams kicks off her days with a dose of Bible reading followed by a daily devotional. On this particular day, the theme was keeping the faith, fitting her cheery disposition wonderfully. However, the conversation led her to tear up, but she managed to quip, "We're not going to do this early into this interview."
Byrdsong Williams has devoted almost 20 years to the DEI realm, starting her journey in 2007. Her passion for the work grew after a conversation with a hearing-impaired colleague, leading her to ponder workplace barriers she'd never experienced and ways to dismantle them. "Diversity runs deep," she says, "It's not just about what you can see but also what you can't."
After holding executive roles in companies like Nationwide and Cisco, Byrdsong Williams found herself in the global director position for a tech startup by last summer. Unfortunately, she fell victim to a wider round of layoffs and found herself in search of new employment. As a single mother, she remained optimistic, "Being a single mom does bring on resiliency. I immediately was like, it's going to be fine."
Yet, after nearly a year, she hasn't been able to secure another DEI job. "I've been in interviews. They're like, OK, we're no longer going to rehire - we're no longer going to staff this role," she says, noting the stark difference from the previous job market.
Five years ago, the public outcry following George Floyd's murder sent employers rushing to hire diversity specialists. In just three years, the number of DEI-related jobs in the U.S. nearly doubled. Experienced executives like Byrdsong Williams found their inboxes overflowing with recruiters' messages. "My inbox was completely on fire," she recalls.
However, a significant backlash was brewing. Critics argue DEI is discriminatory, especially against white men. Conservative voices, such as Robby Starbuck, have spoken out against these initiatives. Even supporters of DEI concede that employers haven't always gotten it right, but they argue that, at its best, it opens opportunities for all. Jeffrey Siminoff, who oversaw diversity initiatives for major companies like Morgan Stanley and Apple, asserts, "The work of inclusion and diversity is actually making the workplace better for most people without taking anything away from anyone or any group."
As the backlash grew, some companies started distancing themselves from DEI. President Trump's reelection and subsequent executive orders banning what he called "illegal DEI" further fueled the fire. Now, dozens of private employers have erased even the word "diversity" from their public documents. The chilling effect on DEI hiring has transformed into a freeze.
According to data scientist Paulina Tilly of Revelio Labs, companies with DEI teams tend to have a more diverse workforce. Eliminating these teams is expected to reduce diversity in the workplace significantly. In the last two years, U.S. employers have eliminated more than 2,600 jobs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This doesn't mean everybody in those roles has been laid off; some companies simply cease filling positions when someone leaves. However, many companies have also opted to rebrand their DEI departments as culture or belonging. Despite the new names, Tilly notes that employers aren't hiring as much for those roles anymore either, keeping professionals like Byrdsong Williams on the sidelines.
"When you are directly affected by something, it really vibrates the ground," says Byrdsong Williams, illustrating the profound impact this situation has had on her. Now, she's applying for human resources roles that may not have diversity or DEI in their titles, hoping that employers will focus on her skills and long-standing experience. In the meantime, she relies on her close-knit family and her unwavering faith. Displayed in her home is a sign her daughter painted featuring a favorite Bible verse, "Psalms 46: He is within her - she will not fail. I'm not worried about failing." Byrdsong Williams waits for another employer to share the same conviction and passion for workplace diversity she's held for decades.
[1] NPR. (2023, February 17). MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1077341839[2] Sims, R. L. (2021, October 8). Why Corporate America's Diversity and Inclusion Efforts Backslide. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/10/why-corporate-americas-diversity-and-inclusion-efforts-backslide[3] Zingg, O., & Rose, M. (2022, July 28). The fight to save diversity, equity, and inclusion from the right. Yahoo Finance. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fight-save-diversity-equity-inclusion-163300601.html[4] Goldstein, J. (2021, December 15). Diversity officers are being laid off. Now, the backlash against them begins. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/12/15/diversity-officers-being-laid-off-now-backlash-against-them-begins/
- The current job market for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals is challenging, with many finding it difficult to secure new roles.
- Critics argue that DEI initiatives are discriminatory, especially against white men, and conservative voices like Robby Starbuck have spoken out against these efforts.
- Some companies have begun distancing themselves from DEI, either erasing the term from their public documents or rebranding their DEI departments as culture or belonging.
- The decrease in DEI-related jobs can potentially lead to a significant reduction in workplace diversity, as companies with DEI teams tend to have a more diverse workforce.
