US Jewelry Bosses "Could do Better" at Racial Diversity
January 17, 21
(IDEX Online) - Employers in the US fine jewelry industry rate themselves highly when it comes racial justice, but don't necessarily practice what they preach, says a major new survey.
Seven out of 10 rated themselves as "very good" at racial justice and equity in a survey about diversity and inclusion conducted by trade association Jewelers of America and National Jeweler magazine.
But only 41 per cent gave themselves the same "very good" rating when it comes to actually having a racially diverse staff.
"While the majority of employers ranked themselves as "very good" overall when it comes to racial justice and equity, their answers to other questions indicate there is more work to be done," the report concluded.
The survey was carried out last September and October in the wake of protests for racial justice, to better understand the experiences of black professionals in the fine jewelry industry.
A total of 473 people took part in the employer-focused part of the survey. An additional 341 employees and self-employed took part in the employee-focused part and their responses will be included in a later report.
Overall 71.5 per cent of those surveyed were white, 5.3 per cent black or African American, 4.9 per cent Asian, 4.6 per cent Hispanic or Latino, 2.9 per cent multiracial or biracial, 0.7 per cent American Indian or Alaska Native, 2 per cent other and 7.3 per cent preferred not to say.