First-ever DEI Census reveals major challenges around family status, age, gender, ethnicity and disability

18th October 2021: WFA has published the initial results from the first-ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Census of the global marketing industry, an initiative that was supported by ICAS and its global network.

The census identified key challenges around family status, age and gender as well as ethnicity and disability. The key findings can be read below:  

Most common forms of discrimination globally were reported on the basis of age and family status

Women and ethnic minorities in the marketing industry report poorer lived experiences than men and ethnic majorities

But marketing still outperforms many other industries globally on DEI

The Census found clear gaps in lived experience when these groups were compared to the industry average, both in individual markets and globally. For example, on Kantar’s Inclusion Index, which is generated by asking questions about people’s sense of belonging, the absence of discrimination and presence of negative behaviour, men scored at 69% compared to women at 61%.

Despite these serious concerns, the marketing sector still outperformed every other category that has been analysed by research partner Kantar, scoring an overall 64% on the Inclusion Index, ahead of the next highest sector, Health and Pharmaceuticals on 60%.

The results are based on more than 10,000 responses from 27 markets around the world conducted in June to July 2021 with the online survey identifying not just the demographics of participants but also their sense of belonging, experience of discrimination and demeaning behaviour.

For more information visit WFA’s website

More details on the initial results can be dowloaded here.