Diversity resources for small business owners

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Read time: 6 minutes (759 words) 

Diversity—of customers, employees and vendors—isn’t just a consideration for large corporations. It’s an essential part of the future of small businesses, too.  

By 2050, it's projected that the Black population of the United States will grow by approximately 30%, the Hispanic population by 60% and the Asian American population by more than 50%, while the aged population will grow by another 6%. That’s a lot of change on the horizon, which is why the number of resources available for helping small business owners embrace diversity, equity and inclusion (known as DEI) initiatives in their businesses is growing. 

The makeup—and advantages—of a diverse workplace 

Are there advantages for businesses that embrace diversity? First, let’s consider what makes for a diverse workplace: a range of races, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, backgrounds, physical and mental skills and abilities (including disabilities), personality types, spoken languages, nationalities, education, and income. 

And when you consider that diversity applies to not only the business’s employees or vendors, but your customer base, too, the benefits become clear: 

  • You’ll gain more thorough knowledge and insight into the cultures of your local market. 

  • You can better target your marketing and incorporate cultural sensitivity.

  • A more diverse set of perspectives and a wider range of knowledge can lead to more out-of-the-box thinking and innovation. 

  • A culturally diverse workforce can give you an edge in a competitive job market—especially with Gen Y and Gen Z workers, who highly regard employers committed to DEI. 

  • You’ll earn a reputation as a socially responsible and inclusive business. 

Resources to help you build a diverse workplace  

All right, so you’re ready to improve your hiring process to be more inclusive. But you’re not a large enough business to have a human resources team…yet, anyway. But how do you begin? Where do you find the information you need to be sure you’re doing it right? A good place to start is with this list of resources for an employer who would like to make their business more inclusive.  

General  

Race 

LGBTQIA+ 

Women in the workplace 

Abilities and accessibility (physical and mental) 

Communications  

 

When DEI is a top priority in the workplace, it not only gives all employees the same fair chance at success, but it elevates the business as an employer of choice. According to ZipRecruiter, 48% of job seekers are more likely to apply for jobs when employers state their commitment to DEI, which mirrors the growth in trends showing that consumers prefer brands that closely align with their values. 

That’s almost half of the respondents...and it’s a mighty testament to the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. And when you take that first step toward becoming an inclusive workplace, you’ll not only change your business—you’ll change your horizons and your outlook…and you might even help change the world.