The Business Case for Diversity. Whenever we diminish equality of opportunity, it means we are not using some of our most valuable assets – our people.

The Business Case for Diversity

Whenever we diminish equality of opportunity, it means we are not using some of our most valuable assets – our people – in the most

productive way possible.

Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel prize winner,

Former World Bank Chief Economist. May 2011

Diverse Auckland

• 150+ ethnic groups live in Auckland

• 44% of Aucklanders will be of Asian

and Pacific Island descent by 2020

• By 2030, 330,000 will be over 65 years

old and 355,000 will be under 15

• 20 new people are arriving every day

• Family structures are changing

Diverse Wellington

• 22.9% of people in the Wellington

region were born overseas

• 9.5% or people are from a non-English

speaking background

• 159 ethnic groups

• new people are arriving every day

• Family structures are changing

The future professional labour force

• 7.4% students are Māori

• 8.5% students are Pacific

• 55% of students are women

• 36% of students are Asian

• 21% of students are over 30

• 2.6% of students have disabilities

Diverse talent pool

• Four generations working together

• Changing family structures

• Increasing number of disabled

• Almost 25% of NZ’s workforce is

50-64 yrs old

• Labour force decline overall

particularly in 15-24 year age group

• Increasingly diverse culturally and

ethnically

Making good business sense

• Better decision making at board level

• Wider talent pool

• Increased adaptability

• Enhanced employment and

customer brand

Making good business sense

• Increased employee engagement

and productivity

• Reflects diverse markets in New

Zealand and overseas

• Improved staff retention and

customer service

Dimensions of diversity

1996. Implementing Diversity by Marilyn Loden. Mc-Graw Hill Publishing, Burr Ridge, IL

Religion

Geographic

Location

Military

Experience

Education

Communication

Style

Work

Style

Family

Status

Work

Experience

Organisation Role And Level

Income

First

Language

Age Gender

Sexual

Orientation

Ethnic

Heritage

Race

Mental/Physica

l

Abilities and

Characteristic

Primary Dimension Secondary Dimension