The State of Culture and Inclusion

2024 Trends and a Look Ahead at 2025

How did anti-diversity activism impact corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion in 2024? And, how can companies move forward and build cultures for everyone in 2025?
In 2024, anti-diversity activism surged into the mainstream, creating challenges for corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Despite this, many organizations are finding ways to evolve and embed inclusion into their practices to build more resilient workplaces.
Based on insights representing hundreds of thousands of employees from 220 organizations across 20+ industries who used Paradigm Blueprint in 2024, our data shows:
60% of companies have a DEI strategy—up 9 points from 2023
66% of companies have dedicated DEI budgets—up 12 points from 2023
40% of companies have a senior leader fully dedicated to DEI—up 13 points from 2023
63% of companies have partnerships with DEI-focused organizations—up 9 points from 2023
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While there was progress, our data also show how the backlash impacted companies' efforts.

The number of companies with gender representation goals decreased from 2023 to 2024

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43%

of leaders

said backlash influenced their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in 2024

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How can companies move from navigating backlash to driving progress?

While the acronym "DEI" has become a lightning rod for criticism, most of the work behind these initiatives—building representative teams, fostering fair processes, and creating inclusive cultures—remains widely supported. To navigate the current climate and prepare for the future, organizations must:

1

Reset the Narrative

2

Use Data to Tell a More Effective Story

3

Embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts Throughout the Organization

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This report offers a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of workplace culture and inclusion. Whether you're a leader, practitioner, or advocate, these insights will help you navigate challenges and drive meaningful progress in the year ahead.