Findings from a 2024 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) report by TEKsystems paint a picture of a tech industry at a crossroads. While many companies have improved their DEI efforts since 2023, there’s still work to do.
IT leaders committed to seeing better equity and inclusion in their workforce should consider the report a call to action. Ultimately, businesses must increase their focus on DEI to drive innovation, retain valuable employees and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
The Good: Progress in DEI Initiatives
The journey toward integrating DEI initiatives in the corporate world has seen significant progress in the last year.
Eighty percent of IT decision-makers surveyed agree that DEI is critical for shaping an inclusive IT workforce. This sentiment is echoed by the growing maturity of DEI policies—up from 46% in 2023 to 57% today. Investment in DEI is also on the rise. Two-thirds (68%) of enterprise decision-makers plan to increase spending on DEI initiatives and focus more on DEI-centric hiring practices in 2024.
At the same time, IT professionals value DEI in their job considerations, and 41% rate it as ‘extremely important.’ This is even more pronounced among women and non-white IT professionals, where 55% regard DEI as a crucial factor in their job choice (the survey classifies respondents as white, non-white, male and female).
Franklin Reed, executive director of global inclusion, diversity and equity at TEKsystems, reflects on this momentum: “Seeing more respondents clearly recognize DEI’s role as a talent strategy and in fostering inclusive environments is a very positive outcome.”
The Bad: Perceptions and Experiences of IT Employees
Despite advancements at the organizational level, there’s a noticeable disconnect in how IT employees perceive and experience DEI initiatives.
One in four IT professionals regard DEI as “not at all important” when considering a new job—a figure that jumps to nearly two in five among male IT employees, who comprise the vast majority of the workforce.
The contrast is even sharper when looking at the experiences of women and non-white IT employees, who view diversity initiatives in IT more favorably. These groups are also more likely to say DEI efforts have positively impacted their career and growth opportunities.
Clarity and visibility are other areas of concern. A significant share of IT employees is uncertain about the importance of DEI to their organization’s strategic goals. This could indicate potential gaps in DEI communication and engagement at the employee level.
The Ugly: Continuing Challenges Facing DEI
The findings highlight a challenging road ahead for DEI in the IT industry.
Nine in 10 professionals identified DEI challenges in their organization, suggesting that the path to achieving true equity and inclusion in the IT industry is still fraught with obstacles.
Although many IT employees are satisfied with their current employers, there has been a noticeable decline compared to previous years. This could suggest that DEI-related issues are not being addressed effectively in the workplace.
While the highest satisfaction stems from work relationships, schedule flexibility and working on engaging projects, satisfaction with mentorship programs and gender balance initiatives is low, with less than half of the surveyed IT workforce saying they are content in these areas. And only half of IT employees believe they have real growth opportunities at their workplace. This dissatisfaction is significant, as mentorship and gender balance are crucial for creating an inclusive environment that fosters employee growth and development.
"DEI efforts find the greatest success when you recognize how to create programs that support all your people,” Reed said. “Making sure our diversity efforts meet every individual where they are will start to close the gap."
There is a silver lining: 66% of employees recognize that their organization’s DEI policies could be improved. This indicates a workforce aware of existing gaps, which is an important step to achieving true change.
What’s Next?
While DEI initiatives are increasingly recognized for their value in fostering innovation, productivity and employee retention, their full potential is not being realized. The gap between the intention and the impact of these policies reflects the need for a more effective and inclusive approach to DEI in the IT sector.
The following steps can help IT decision-makers embrace diversity at all levels of the organization:
- Make DEI strategies an enterprise-wide priority.
- Collaborate closely with Human Resources.
- Invest in diverse talent pools.
- Actively engage employees in DEI initiatives by establishing robust mentorship programs and prioritizing training.
- Conduct internal surveys to gather feedback from IT employees.
Turning to experts like TEKsystems, who partners with Per Scholas to change the face of technology, can also provide valuable guidance. By supporting the development of diverse talent pools and aligning training with industry demands, TEKsystems and Per Scholas offer actionable insights for companies looking to enhance their DEI strategies. To learn more, click here.