Impact of Diversity on Young Professionals In Construction Industry
Events like Black History Month can have a huge impact on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It is obvious that companies can no longer afford to ignore diversity. As we discover here, younger workers are making career decisions based on the issue of diversity, and businesses are seeing the benefit of being more inclusive in the way they operate.
What Does Diversity Mean for a Young Workforce?
By 2025 it is estimated that 75% of the global workforce will have been born after 1981. This means that three-quarters of the working population are ‘Millennials’, ‘Gen Z’, or younger – and with this generational change comes a greater emphasis on diversity in the workplace. According to a Deloitte survey in 2021, 56% of Gen Z workers – those born after 1996 – would consider the degree of diversity in a senior leadership team a major factor in choosing to work at a company.
Other surveys suggest that applicants are increasingly researching how diverse a company is before and during the recruitment process. An all-white or all-male interview panel, for example, could be seen negatively by the would-be employee. Organisations also need to ensure that their commitment to diversity runs deep. It is not enough to pay lip service to diversity or exhibit ‘performance allyship’ – where a company, for example, may fly a rainbow flag from its building during Pride month but actually act in ways that exclude LGBTQ+ people from working there.
Impact of Black History Month on Young Workers
Educational and Inspirational Impact on Young Professionals
By celebrating Black History Month, businesses can have a lasting positive impact on their employees. Workers will have a better understanding of the challenges that black people in the past have faced throughout history, helping to shape their identity and sense of belonging. This will also benefit non-black employees, who will have greater empathy for people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, reducing the risk of prejudice or discrimination.
Empowerment Through Diversity
People will feel empowered if they see their employer embracing Black History Month, supporting it through its policies and practices, and making diversity part of the fabric of a business. Staff who feel that the company they work for represents them, and reflects the diversity of society as a whole, are going to be more productive, and motivated and develop better working relationships. There are a range of initiatives for employers that can help to make workplaces develop a diversity and inclusion strategy and become more inclusive.
Encourage Dialogue and Reflection in the Workplace
One of the most tangible differences that Black History Month can make in the workplace is the opportunity it gives people of different cultures and backgrounds to engage with each other. Through designated sessions or just natural day-to-day interactions, colleagues can gain a deeper appreciation of someone’s culture, religion or language, and how this may affect their working life. Diversity means people of different ages, genders and backgrounds sharing experiences, opinions and ideas, helping to break down barriers and creating a more open, collaborative working environment where all perspectives are welcomed.
Get Involved and Make a Difference This Black History Month with Go Construct
It is important to ensure that the positive impact of Black History Month does not stop in a workplace on 31st October, but continues throughout the year. Why not get involved and organize some Black History Month events where you work, and make a difference to diversity?