Globally recognised recruitment and HR specialist RossJuliaRoss has just completed the first report in its Diversity Research Program to measure and report, from a unique multilateral perspective, on Workplace Diversity in major Australian corporations.

Unlike a number of reports currently available, this new research measured not only the proportion of females in the boardroom and in the management team, but  also reported on the progress of ASX 300 companies in other components of diversity significant to the future, such as:

• the age of boards
• the proportion of indigenous Australians employed by our largest corporations
• the prevalence of workers with a disability in the workforces of our largest corporations; and
• their proportion of culturally and linguistically diverse workers .

Interestingly, ASX300 companies appear to be facing a growing gap between their consumer marketplace and those developing their strategic direction with research showing that while Baby Boomers comprise less than half (approximately 43 per cent) of Australia’s current workforce, they are over-represented at Board level, with the significant majority (63 per cent) of respondents showing that less than 50 per cent of their board is under 55 years.

Results also showed that years of government focus on supporting multi-culturalism and positive employment outcomes for migrants appears to have had a measurable impact with 22 per cent of respondents employing a workforce made up of 30 per cent of employees with a culturally or linguistically diverse background.

Julia Ross, Managing Director, RossJuliaRoss says, “As a publicly listed company director with decades of HR experience gathered from around the world I am surprised by some but not all of the results from our first Diversity Report.

“It shocked me to realise that in 2010 so few of the ASX300 companies in Australia have programmes containing practical policy mechanisms, rather than simply statements of intent, to actively support the promotion of women to senior executive roles. These results are surprising considering the recent focus on productivity and female participation that has characterised the debate in recent times.

“What came as no surprise were the results we received pertaining to Indigenous Australians employed by the ASX300. Despite the fact that unemployment rates of Australian’s identifying as Indigenous sit at around 14 per cent in major city areas, no member of the list has more than 12 per cent of employees who are indigenous, therefore providing an untapped resource pool at a time when Australia needs to improve its national productivity.” Ms Ross concluded.

The RossJuliaRoss March 2010 Diversity Research Report was the first in a series of research reports expected in 2010. If you would like a copy of this report, click here or please email DiversityReport@rossjuliaross.com