Did you know that employers are more likely to hire candidates who look like them? In many workplaces across several sectors, unconscious bias is contributing to companies failing to capitalize on the advantages of creating diverse teams. As the infographic below shows, ¾ of C-suite executives are male, and in 2019, more men called Jeffrey landed CEO jobs in the US than women.
Research suggests that hiring decisions are based heavily on the similarities between employers and candidates, rather than the answers provided during interviews or qualifications. As a result, women and people from ethnic minority groups are missing out on opportunities to progress to the top rungs of the career ladder.
There are significant gender gaps within several industries at almost every level, but the higher you climb, the wider the margins. Only 22% of C-suite executives are female, with only 4% of roles occupied by people of color. White males represent ⅓ of the entry-level workforce, but over ⅔ of the executive suite.
Eliminating bias can help businesses to diversify recruitment strategies, build a better team and seize new opportunities. Companies can do this by providing access to resources and training, supporting those who may not have the income needed to pay for training and learning programs and offering coaching. Around 80% of workers said that coaching had helped them to improve their communication skills and productivity, and most took more satisfaction out of their job.
If you’d like to learn more about how bias shapes workforces and how democratized coaching can help to open up talent channels and provide opportunities, take a closer look at the infographic below.
Infographic Design By Ezra Coaching