Google joins peers scrapping diversity recruitment targets

Google is abandoning its previously established diversity hiring targets, marking a significant change in its approach to building a diverse workforce. The tech giant explained that the move is part of a broader shift towards more flexible and long-term recruitment practices.

"We're committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities, and over the last year we've been reviewing our programmes designed to help us get there," Google told The Associated Press in a statement.

Google's chief diversity officer, Melonie Parker, appears to have transitioned to the role of vice president of Googler engagement, according to her LinkedIn profile as of February.

Don't miss: Google ad revenue up as AI investments soar

This U-turn aligns with industry shifts where major firms, including Meta, Amazon, and Walmart, have rolled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) targets.

US President Donald Trump and his administration have also intensified opposition to DEI policies, issuing executive orders that impact federal contractors such as Google. Companies such as Target are facing lawsuits over DEI-related policies, highlighting growing financial and reputational concerns and the sensitivity of the issue.

Google's decision came just weeks after its CEO Sundar Pichai and other tech leaders attended Trump's inauguration. The company also said it had carried out an annual review of its corporate policies.

"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," the statement continued.

As a result, Alphabet's latest 2024 annual report no longer includes the statement in the culture and workforce section that it is "committed to making diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do," which had been featured in previous reports.

Google, which generates the bulk of Alphabet's US$350 billion 2024 annual revenue and employs most of its 183,000 global workforce, plays a central role in shaping the company's corporate policies.

According to its annual diversity report, a substantial portion of its workforce - 35.2% as of 2024 - is based in Asia-Pasific, where it has offices in major hubs such as Singapore, Japan, China, India, South Korea, and Indonesia, among others.

Meta ended its DEI programmes in January, stopping training, hiring, and supplier selection. Amazon, in December, said it was phasing out old DEI programmes and materials.

Related articles:
Google fined IDR 202 billion for antitrust violations in Indonesia
From Olympic glory to local films: Google unveils HK's top searches in 2024
Harley-Davidson drops DEI-function amidst anti-woke movement