Study Ranks Countries with Most Diverse Workforces

Forbes commissioned Oxford Economics to measure employee diversity in different countries. Norway topped the list with the most diverse workforce, Other Scandinavian countries also scored very high on the diversity scale: Iceland and Sweden were also in the top ten. The scores largely reflect gender diversity in the workforces of these countries. (The study did not examine ethnic diversity, because not all countries compile that information. If ethnic diversity had been counted, then the U.S. would probably have come in higher than it did at number nine.)

The full top ten, in order, from number one down, are Norway, New Zealand, Iceland, Switzerland, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, the Philippines, the United States, and Sweden.

The study also compared the diversity of different industry sectors. The top five, in order from top down, are health, hotels and catering, education, business services and other services. Of the 14 sectors studied, the least diverse overall was mining, which, along with construction, has the lowest percentage of female workers. Mining, along with utilities, is also the sector with the least age diversity; agriculture has the most.

Companies are increasingly realizing that diversity is good for business. A company’s diverse workforce can help to attract customers and new employees. WeComply’s online workplace diversity training course teaches employees what they need to know about diversity laws, while emphasizing the value to business of diversity and the importance of treating everyone with respect and dignity. 

Categories: Discrimination & Harassment Compliance
Tags: Workplace Diversity