How DE&I efforts evolved in 2021

The growing investment in diversity, equity and inclusion continues, according to Ragan’s 2022 Communications Benchmark Survey. Of more than 1,000 respondents in the communications profession, 74% said DE&I efforts in their organization had increased in 2021. This indicates that organizations seem committed to following through on promises made in this sector, even as we get more distance from the dramatic events of 2020 that put a spotlight on the topic.

But how organizations are going about those expanded efforts varies, respondents say.

Sixty percent are still making strategic plans, according to the survey. Others are having more open communications about diversity and inclusion topics, including through open conversations (59%), holding additional trainings on relevant topics (57%) or bringing in outside speakers.

Others are putting plans into action by creating new employee resource groups (44%), new DE&I positions (40%), changing talent, retention and employment policies (33%), or increasing diversity of suppliers and vendors (23%).