NZ workforce diversity: what should it look like?

(Consedine, 2012)

I have been wondering what workforce diversity would really look like in New Zealand. So I have been pulling some stats together.

A truly diverse New Zealand workforce would consist, at all levels, of:

• 15% Maori; 12% Asian, 7% Pasifika and the remainder Pakeha (Statistics NZ, 2013a)
• 51% female and 49% male (Statistics NZ, 2013)
• 18% with a bachelor's degree or higher from a range of disciplines; 17% with diplomas or certificates (this may include trades); 30% with a secondary qualification; 19% with no quals; and 17% that doesn't seem to be counted anywhere but may be tradespeople if they are not in the cert/dip group (Statistics NZ, 2013)
• a range of socio-economic backgrounds with 6% in Socio-economic status 1 (the 'upper' class); 6% in 2; 28% in 3; 21% in 4; 19% in 5 and 20% in 6 (Statistics NZ, 2006a)
• 25% born overseas, 75% born in New Zealand (Statistics NZ, 2013)
• Ages with 50% over 42 years of age and 50% under 42; broken down into 18% 15-24, 41% 25-44, 38% 45-64, 8% 65+ (EEO Trust, 2012)
• 16% with differing disabilities (Statistics NZ, 2006b)

Now that would create organisations with attitudes and values that keep pace easily with society... because they look just like the community they serve.

That's diversity.

Sam

References:

• Consedine, R. (2012). Anti-racism and Treaty of Waitangi activism - Government and community anti-racism organisations, for Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 15 November 2012. http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/26683/race-relations-brochures 
• EEO Trust (2012). Workforce Demographic Trends. http://www.eeotrust.org.nz/content/docs/reports/FINAL%20Workforce%20Demographic%20Trends%202012.doc
• Statistics NZ (2014). New Zealand General Social Survey: 2014. https://www.cbg.co.nz/site/cbg/nzgss2014HOTP%20(1).pdf
• Statistics NZ (2013). New Zealand Census 2013. http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-about-national-highlights/cultural-diversity.aspx
• Statistics NZ (2006a).  New Zealand socio-economic index 2006. http://www.stats.govt.nz/~/media/Statistics/surveys-and-methods/methods/research-papers/nz-socio-economic-index-2006/nz-socio-economic-index-2006.pdf
• Statistics NZ (2006b). Disability Status By Place of Residence, Age Group, Sex and Ethnic Group, 2006. http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/modalexports.aspx?exporttype=excel&FisrtDataPointIndexPerPage=&SubSessionId=6b20dd2f-aa09-44f4-9566-8f580ab9cc35&Random=0.7374431257710761