In a significant shift, Google has announced that it will no longer maintain diversity hiring targets and will conduct a comprehensive review of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This decision was communicated to employees in an email obtained by The Wall Street Journal.
Google’s move aligns with a broader trend among tech companies that are scaling back their DEI initiatives, particularly in response to increasing scrutiny from conservative groups. Other major players in the industry, such as Amazon and Meta, have also rolled back their DEI measures in recent months.
The tech giant first introduced DEI targets in 2009, aiming to increase hires from underrepresented groups by 30% by 2020. According to its latest 2024 diversity report, Google claims to have met that goal by 2022. However, the report reveals stagnation in leadership diversity, with 5.7% of leaders identifying as Black and 7.5% as Latino, figures that have remained unchanged since 2023.
In the recent email, Google indicated that it is reconsidering the future of its diversity reports and evaluating whether its programs need to align with recent court rulings and executive orders that seek to limit DEI initiatives.
When contacted for comment, a Google spokesperson stated, “We’re committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities. Over the last year, we’ve been reviewing our programs designed to help us get there. We’ve updated our 10-K language to reflect this, and as a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes required following recent court decisions and executive orders on this topic.”
This decision marks a pivotal moment for Google as it navigates the evolving landscape of workplace diversity and inclusion, raising questions about the future of DEI efforts in the tech industry.
