Canada Steps Up On Diversity

Recent studies show that a diverse workforce is advantageous for any company. Businesses that hire employees from a wide variety of backgrounds enjoy greater creativity and productivity. However, the number of firms that can claim diversity in their employees is still limited.

One of the reasons for this is the lack of qualified candidates from the diversity pool. This is especially true for employers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) where the scarcity starts as early as college. Children who are interested in STEM at a young age don’t always pursue the field.  This results in a limited diversity pool for firms to choose from later on.

However, bold steps are being undertaken in Canada to recruit talent from a wide array of backgrounds. To encourage companies to hire more women, minorities and disabled candidates, steps have been taken to recognize employers that actually do so. In February, there were 55 winners named in the seventh annual Canada’s Best Diversity Employers competition. By promoting the idea that a more inclusive workplace is a recipe for success, other companies are encouraged to develop similar initiatives in their organizations. 

More companies are also advertising available positions in areas where the success rate for reaching diversity candidates is high. This includes community boards, ethnic and community centers and publications. Some firms are also developing linkages with groups that work with these diverse groups. These strategies allow organizations to widen their reach and promote employment where diversity candidates regularly search.

Although there is a limited pool to choose from when it comes to qualified diversity candidates in Canada, it seems an increased number of Canadian companies are creating more inclusive work places.