The corporate landscape for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roles is facing a significant downturn, according to new employment research, as the Trump administration’s policy shift targeting identity-based considerations takes effect.
Data from Revelio Labs, reported by Bloomberg, indicates a sharp decline in job postings for diversity roles. As of September, postings have plunged roughly 50% from pre-pandemic levels, falling to approximately 1,500 this year. This contrasts sharply with the hiring peak in 2022, when DEI-related postings nearly quadrupled, reaching an estimated 10,000.
When President Donald Trump began his term in January, DEI job postings were still about 6% above 2019 levels, demonstrating the speed of the recent contraction.
Administration’s Push Against Identity-Based Policies
President Trump has spearheaded a major effort to roll back identity-based considerations in employment across the federal and private sectors. In January, he signed an executive order directing federal agencies to enforce civil rights laws and “combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.”
This regulatory environment is being amplified by actions from other federal bodies. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has used merger approval processes to pressure companies into terminating what it deems discriminatory DEI policies. Similarly, financial regulators have scaled back or canceled exams on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, which critics say were leveraged by the previous administration to promote liberal priorities within private companies.
Companies Cut Back as Professionals Adapt
In recent months, several major corporations, including T-Mobile, Paramount, Amazon, and Walmart, have either eliminated or significantly reduced their DEI policies and departments, aligning with the broader political and regulatory shifts.
The contraction is creating a significant challenge for DEI professionals. Beyond the roles disappearing, individuals with DEI-related experience are increasingly viewed as a liability. This perception has led many job seekers to remove the DEI label from their résumés or reconsider their career trajectories entirely.
Former DEI Employees Repurpose Skills
According to Revelio Labs, DEI professionals leaving their roles are primarily moving into non-DEI-focused positions:
- 38% transitioned to non-DEI roles within the same company.
- 55% secured non-DEI roles at new organizations.
- A small minority were able to secure new DEI positions elsewhere.
While dedicated DEI roles are shrinking, the expertise gained isn’t vanishing, according to Revelio Labs. Many are transferring their skills to other departments. Among former DEI professionals, key destinations include:
- 16% moving into HR operations.
- 7.9% into education program coordinator roles.
- 7.1% into public affairs officer positions.
- 7% into academic research.
“While the number of dedicated DEI roles is shrinking, the expertise developed in these positions is not being lost,” Revelio Labs noted in its September report. “Instead, it is being redirected into other parts of the organization, suggesting that while the DEI label may be fading, the underlying work of building equitable and inclusive environments continues to find new avenues to persist.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
