National survey reveals Americans expect
employers to remove discriminatory hiring practices
TROY,
Mich., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly three
in four Americans say they are more likely to seek employment with
companies that are committed to breaking down discriminatory hiring
practices, according to an annual survey conducted by staffing and
workforce solutions provider Kelly.
Kelly today revealed the findings from its annual Equity@Work
survey that show Americans want companies to provide greater
access to work for underemployed talent groups including job
seekers with criminal backgrounds, those on the autism spectrum,
veterans, older workers, and women. More than 4 in 5 (83%) agree
employers should do more to remove barriers that keep job seekers
in these talent groups from being hired or promoted.
"Companies are in desperate need of skilled talent. At the same
time, millions of qualified job seekers face significant barriers
to employment," says Kelly Vice
President and Equity@Work Program Manager Pam Sands. "It's time employers provide fairer
access to work for these talent groups. Our survey results indicate
it will have a positive impact on their ability to identify skilled
workers across the board."
Nearly 33% of working-age Americans have a criminal offense on
their record that often disqualifies them from finding employment.
The unemployment rate among adults on the autism spectrum is around
85%. Veterans without four-year degrees often struggle to find
civilian employment. Older job seekers can find it challenging to
transition careers and there are nearly two million fewer women in
the labor force due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kelly, which places 350,000 job seekers every year, launched its
Equity@Work initiative in 2020 to remove systemic employment
barriers for these Americans. Its survey of 1,020 adults in the
U.S. shows companies can benefit from hiring policies that embrace
these talent groups:
- 76% of Americans say they are more likely to support businesses
committed to breaking down barriers to work.
- 72% say they are more likely to seek employment with companies
committed to eliminating these barriers.
- 80% say employers should value the relevant skills military
veterans have acquired and factor them into hiring decisions.
- 71% say they are more likely to support businesses that make
employment opportunities available to individuals on the autism
spectrum.
- 70% say employers should eliminate or reduce blanket-bans that
automatically reject job seekers who have minor, non-violent
offenses on their criminal record.
- 62% agree that women forced out of the workforce due to the
pandemic face reduced earning potential and advancement
opportunities when they return to work.
- More than half of Americans (52%) say Baby Boomers face issues
of ageism at work.
"The message is loud and clear: Americans expect companies to do
better," Sands says. "Recruiting from these underrepresented talent
groups is not just the right thing to do, it's good business."
For full survey results and information on Kelly's Equity@Work
initiative, visit EquityAtWork.com.
Equity@Work Survey Methodology
The survey was
conducted online by Atomik Research. 1,020 adults in the U.S.
completed the survey between Feb. 15 and 21,
2022. The overall margin of error fell within +/- 3
percentage points with a confidence interval of 95%. Researchers
implemented sample quotas based on gender identity, geographical
regions, age groups and ethnicity to reflect similar statistically
representative ratios based on U.S. Census reports.
About Kelly®
Kelly (Nasdaq: KELYA)
(Nasdaq: KELYB) connects talented people to companies in need
of their skills in areas including Science, Engineering, Education,
Office, Contact Center, Light Industrial, and more. We're always
thinking about what's next in the evolving world of work, and we
help people ditch the script on old ways of thinking and embrace
the value of all workstyles in the workplace. We directly employ
nearly 350,000 people around the world and connect thousands more
with work through our global network of talent suppliers and
partners in our outsourcing and consulting practice. Visit
kellyservices.com and let us help with what's next for you. Follow
Kelly on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Contact
Christian
Taske
248-561-8823
christian.taske@kellyservices.com
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SOURCE Kelly Services, Inc.