Australia leads for diversity & inclusion roles in the APAC region

Companies that invest in diversity and inclusion are 22% more likely to be seen as industry leaders, with Australia paving the way in the APAC region.

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace is vital because it makes space for men and women and people of different ages, ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and sexual orientations. Three in four working Australians strongly support their organisation taking action to create a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Demand for action is rising in Australia. Since the start of the year, searches for ‘what is diversity and inclusion’ have grown 84%, while ‘diversity and inclusion strategy’ has surged by 58%.

The business case for these initiatives is stronger than ever. Globally, demand for diversity roles has grown 71% in five years. Currently, Australia has 1.04 diversity hires per 10,000 employees, making it the second biggest hirer for these roles worldwide.

The country is working towards a 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, which involves over 18,000 government staff spread across 24 sites to create more inclusive workplace policies.  

Progress has already been made, with a 50% rise in female representation at a senior leadership level and a 2.9% increase in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders within the workforce.

Businesses embracing diversity and inclusion are more likely to retain talent. Employees in inclusive teams are 10 times more likely to be very satisfied and 10 times more likely to be innovative.

Sydney and Melbourne lead the way for LGBTQ+ inclusivity

LGBTQ+ job seekers are welcome in Sydney and Melbourne, where almost 65% of job ads promote inclusivity. The two cities rank in the top 10 globally for their LGBTQ+ job inclusivity, above the UK and US. The sectors most actively promoting these policies include:

What actions are businesses taking to improve the Australian Diversity and Inclusion Policy? 

To improve Australia’s diversity and inclusion policy, the government aims to strengthen their approach toward corporate companies and their perspective on diversity and inclusion. The government will do this by focusing on corporate-led programs and awareness activities. Training will be provided within business groups by senior leadership and decision-makers. Training will include: 

• Accountability of Senior Executives and leaders for diversity and inclusion 
• Awareness and skillset of staff to understand the importance of diversity and inclusion
• Development in systems, tools, and processes enhances the way we work collaboratively and allows every team member to perform their full potential

Benefits of diversity and inclusion

Companies that know how to promote equality and diversity at work have a significant competitive advantage:

• Higher levels of team member engagement
• Higher levels of innovation and creativity
• Better decision-making and problem-solving
• Increased profits
• Lower staff turnover
• Better company reputation