'Many Black Canadians continue to experience racism in the workplace and within society'
A majority of Black Canadians believe their employers have made meaningful progress toward workplace equity over the past five years, but challenges remain, according to a new survey from KPMG in Canada.
While 86% of respondents say their employers have fulfilled commitments to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace, many still report experiencing racism, discrimination, and microaggressions on the job.
The fourth annual poll of Black Canadians in the workforce highlights both the gains made and the barriers that persist. Despite ongoing issues, 83% of respondents believe Canadian companies will continue working to remove systemic biases in recruitment, hiring, and promotion—distinct from approaches taken in the U.S.
"It's heartening that Black Canadians feel corporate Canada has made progress on its goals to be more inclusive and equitable," said Rob Davis, Chief Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Officer at KPMG in Canada.
"But while organizations have done much to ensure that all employees are treated fairly, our survey reveals that many Black Canadians continue to experience racism in the workplace and within society, which creates concerns about how their employer plans to keep improving in the future."
According to the findings, 77% of Black Canadians reported experiencing microaggressions, discrimination, or racism at work in the past year, with 23% saying these experiences had increased. Outside of the workplace, 79% reported facing similar challenges in broader society.
In 2023, the government body that was supposed to protect workers from discrimination was found to have discriminated against its own Black and racialized workers.
Despite these obstacles, 75% of respondents say they feel valued and respected in the same way as their non-Black colleagues, and 78% remain confident that their employers will continue working to eliminate systemic barriers over the next five years, found KPMG’s survey, conducted between Dec. 17, 2024, and Jan. 6, 2025, from 1,000 Black Canadians.
Davis emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum:
"As employers, we need to maintain trust by continuing to take action to remove barriers and ensure inclusion and equity efforts are both meaningful, real, and sustainable," he said. "It’s simply good business to create an environment that enables everyone in our workforce to fully participate, be productive, and bring their best to work."
The survey also sheds light on growing concerns over online hate, with 78% of respondents saying that racist discourse on social media is spilling into the workplace, creating tension and division. Nearly nine in 10 respondents said it is crucial for business leaders to be vocal on anti-racism to counteract these effects.
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