The REC's annual survey data, published yesterday (19 September), also highlighted that 44% of the employers surveyed do not use wording specifically designed to be inclusive in their job adverts, compared with 28% who did not in 2023 and 33% who did not in 2022.
Jeanette Wheeler, chief HR officer for software company MHR, said that employers should strive for consistent commitments to diversity.
“The latest data from the REC isn’t encouraging when it comes to diverse hiring,” she told HR magazine. “In today’s world, building an inclusive culture should be the norm for organisations, not something that can fluctuate. Crucially, improving diversity isn’t just a matter of hiring candidates from diverse backgrounds, it’s about an environment where anyone from any background can thrive, regardless of whether the business environment changes.”
Read more: When does DEI in recruitment become discriminatory?
The majority (75%) of employers do not use blind CV submissions, compared with 70% who did not in 2023 and 53% who did not in 2022.
Of the surveyed employers, 62% reported not using diverse interview panels, which is more than the 56% in 2023 and 53% in 2022 who said they did not use them.
Many employers think inclusive hiring should only be a priority in strong financial times, explained Neil Carberry, the REC's chief executive.
He told HR magazine: “The recruiters and employers I am speaking to are finding the current labour market frustrating, and see it weakening. They are therefore moving away from more innovative and inclusive practices because they think what they did before will work for them.”
However, Carberry added, non-inclusive hiring is both ineffective and unethical: “If you’re not recruiting inclusively you will find your recruitment is less and less effective. Inclusive hiring is one of the best ways to broaden your outreach. It’s the right thing to do but it’s also the sustainable thing to do.”
Read more: Health secretary orders NHS to stop hiring DEI roles
The REC also asked the same employers what would most encourage their organisations to implement or enhance equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practices in their recruitment process. The most popular answers were training and learning resources on best EDI practices (29%), stronger internal policies and commitment from senior leaders (26%), events and networking with other organisations on EDI initiatives (20%) and support and advice from external EDI experts (17%).
Carberry said: “Recruiters sit at the heart of coming up with guidance, training and solutions for firms on workplace equality, diversity, and inclusion. This includes everything from neuroinclusive recruitment to building workplaces where people of all races, sexual orientations and genders feel welcome. But it is clear from today’s survey that they need greater commitment from business leaders.”
To get leader buy-in, Carberry recommends making a strong strategic case: “Use great data. Use strategy, and start a discussion about what we want labour to do versus what we want capital to do. Ask which skills we need to grow in the business, and discuss how inclusive hiring could help us find those.”
Wheeler added that HR should explain the benefits to innovation, decision-making and customer service through diverse hiring: “The benefits of building a diverse workforce are too great not to act,” she explained.
“A diverse workforce enhances creativity and innovation by bringing together different perspectives and experiences, leading to enhanced decision-making.
“Importantly, it also allows businesses to connect with a broader market by understanding diverse customer needs, while fostering a more inclusive and positive work environment that improves employee engagement and retention.”
The REC commissioned pollster Savanta to ask 167 employers in the UK of different sizes and locations by telephone in August 2024, about their use of certain measures in their recruitment process. It is the third such annual survey of employers carried out by REC. The same number of different employers were surveyed in 2023 and 2022.
