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Inclusive project management

Diversity in the European Union : general data about discrimination

Regarding diversity in Europe, a study commissioned by the European Commission in 2019 on "Discrimination in the EU" shows some interesting figures. In May 2019, 17% of respondents said they had felt personally discriminated against in the past 12 months. This percentage increased when it came to people who consider belonging to a minority group.

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They report having felt personally discriminated against in the past 12 months : 58% of those who consider themselves to be part of a sexual minority. 52% of people with a disability, 49% of Roma, 40% of ethnic minorities, 38% of people who consider themselves to be part of a religious minority. 13% of people who do not consider themselves to be part of a minority.

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Respondents who have felt discriminated against in the past 12 months are more likely to report such an incident in a public place (23%), at work (21%) or when looking for a job (13%).

Diversity at work

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When asked to consider a situation in which a company has to choose between two equally qualified candidates, 48% of respondents say that a candidate's looks can put them at a disadvantage, while 47% say the same about their age. Slightly more than four out of 10 respondents believe that a candidate's disability or general physical appearance can put them at a disadvantage (41% in both cases).

Diversity in the European tech industry

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As we have just seen, the European labour market has plenty of room for progression in order provide equal opportunities to people from all demographics, backgrounds and experiences. More specifically, the digital sector and the tech industry in Europe kind of follow the same patterns. A survey in the State of European Tech 2021 provides insights about diversity in the tech industry. As already mentionned, there is a gap between what men and women experience in their professionnal life : 38% of women working in European tech report having experienced some form of discrimination in the past 12 months, compared to just 13% of men. 63% of the respondents that self-identify as non-binary and 67% of those self-identifying as genderqueer reported that they have experienced a form of discrimination in the past 12 months.

As regards ethinicity, the survey graphic shows that 36% of hispanic/latin respondents, 37% of respondents from mixed or multiple ethnic groups, 38% of Middle Eastern respondents, 45% of Asians, and 50% of Blacks (African/Caribbean) have experienced a form of discrimination in the past 12 months.

Diversity as an opportunity

However, a lot of studies around the world show that diversity and inclusion are an opportunity for business, for it can boost innovation and financial results. In 2019, the Wall Street Journal’s first corporate ranking that examined diversity and inclusion among S&P 500 companies concluded that « diverse and inclusive cultures are providing companies with a competitive edge over their peers ».
The company Workday also highlighted this fact in their study about « The state of equity, diversity and inclusion in Europe ». A survey was conducted in march 2021 among 2,217 HR professionals and business leaders that have influence over ED&I in their organisations, across 14 countries in Europe. They found that 38% of respondents could see the direct link between more diverse and engaged teams and innovation, and 37% felt investing in ED&I positively impacts business success and results.

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Sources :

Discrimination in the EU – Eurobarometer – Survey : https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2251

State of European Tech 2021 : https://soet-pdf.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/State_of_European_Tech_2021.pdf

The business case for more diversity – Wall Street Journal : https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-business-case-for-more-diversity-11572091200#:~:text=Diverse%20and%20inclusive%20cultures%20are,diverse%20and%20inclusive%20they%20are