Toronto, May 31, 2021: A survey on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Public Relations profession was conducted by Leger on a sample of 1,231 Canadian communications professionals early this year in January and February 2021 for the Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms (CCPRF), the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
24% of the survey respondents were identified as BIPoC professionals, 52% of them were found to work in corporate, government or non-profit environments, while 48% worked in public relations agencies.
Highlights from the survey:
- Diversity found at junior, intermediate and senior levels – but it usually stops near the top – executive level
- Current employers are credited with creating inclusive, positive environments
- BIPoC professionals feel trusted, valued, respected and accepted – but with pressure to conform
- High pride and lower satisfaction found among BIPoC professionals
- Unconscious bias, microaggressions reported by many BIPoC professionals
- A gender gap reported on mental, physical and emotional health
Click here for survey details.
A commitment from association leaders
All three associations pledge to continue their work, both internally and in collaboration with one another, to increase the diversity in the profession at all levels, to remove barriers to the advancement of BIPoC professionals, to improve the inclusion experience of employees and members, to provide ongoing training and education to professionals, and to advocate for greater diversity, equity and inclusion in our employers and organizations.