Employers are ditching diverse recruitment policies amid a backlash against so-called identity politics in the workplace.
A majority (55.2pc) of businesses now no longer state an interest in hiring diverse candidates in their job adverts, according to a survey by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC). The figure has risen from 49.2pc in 2023 and 47.9pc in 2022.
The use of “inclusive” language in job adverts has also fallen from around 72pc of postings to roughly 55pc.
Neil Carberry, the chief executive of the REC, said the shift was driven by “the unhelpful political framing of work on diverse and inclusive hiring as somehow ‘woke’.”
It comes amid concerns from politicians and activists that workplaces have become too focused on diversity at the expense of business performance.
Kemi Badenoch, a former business secretary and current Tory leadership hopeful, said this year that she believed Britain’s diversity drive was “counterproductive”, arguing that it had done little to reduce prejudice yet had cost millions of pounds.
Public institutions such as local councils and the civil service have been criticised for hiring staff who are paid thousands of pounds more than those in commercial roles to oversee diversity programmes.
Earlier this year it was revealed that Birmingham City Council would spend £400,000 on diversity staff despite a black hole in its finances of hundreds of millions of pounds.
Activists in the US have also waged campaigns against major companies including Ford, Harley-Davidson, Starbucks and Jack Daniel’s, arguing that a focus on diversity was harming business performance. Several companies that have been targeted have since softened or abandoned their diversity policies.
The REC found that fewer UK employers were using diverse interview panels and “name blind” recruiting policies, where candidates’ names and details are hidden to avoid discrimination based on their background.
The group warned that abandoning diversity and inclusion policies may hinder employers’ efforts to stem a crippling productivity crisis in Britain and fill roles, adding that employees from minority ethnic backgrounds may be put off from applying.
Mr Carberry said: “This survey suggests that many employers still think of inclusive hiring as something to do in the better times – rather than a fundamental to being able to hire well in the mid-2020s.
“Despite the unhelpful political framing of work on diverse and inclusive hiring as somehow ‘woke’, getting this right is both a commercial and a fairness issue.
“Business leaders need to understand that, even in a cooling market, the world has changed and engaging with a wide pool of potential employees requires a new approach.”
While some businesses have about-turned on diversity-focused recruitment, other employers remain committed to it. The BBC recently confirmed plans to spend £80m on diversity programmes despite a wider cost-cutting drive that involves slashing 500 roles by March 2026 in the hopes of making £500m of savings.
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