C4DISC Releases Workplace Equity in Scholarly Communications 2023 Executive Summary
In 2018, the Workplace Equity Project benchmarked the state of workplace equity in the global scholarly publishing landscape for the first time. Five years later, C4DISC sponsored the Workplace Equity 2023 Working Group to assess progress and how members of the scholarly communications workforce perceive equity and belonging in their workplaces. The initial findings from the analysis of 2023 data are now available.
Download the Workplace Equity in Scholarly Communications 2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY and its APPENDIX. 
Four key themes are explored in the Executive Summary. Readers will find recommendations for individuals and organizations to continue building positive workplace cultures that recognize differences of colleagues’ lived experience.
- Employee satisfaction and recognition of employer commitments to diversity have increased since 2018.
- Not everyone experiences tangible improvements in workplace culture and workplace equity efforts.
- Key focus areas for improving equity include mentorship and networking opportunities, promotion structures and processes, and supporting employees who return from career breaks.
- Words into action: the future of workplace equity requires organizational and personal accountability.
In 2023, we successfully reached a wider audience with broader representation.
- 1,755 responses across 7 continents in 2023 compared to 1,182 across 6 continents in 2018, a 48% increase.
- The respondents continued to be majority women (72% of respondents in 2023 and 76% of respondents in 2018). In 2023 we saw 21% men and four percent non-binary or gender diverse.
- More people identified as being neurodivergent and / or having a disability (in 2023, 72% identified as ‘not disabled’ / ‘not neurodivergent’ compared to 90% identified ‘no disabilities’ in 2018).
In 2023, employers were better at communicating values about diversity, but respondents from some historically marginalized groups are twice as likely to disagree that their employer is committed to advancing inclusion and equity.
- More respondents confirmed they are aware of their employer’s stated values about diversity – 89% were aware in 2023, compared to 60% in 2018 (+29 percentage points).
- In 2023, about one-third of disabled and neurodivergent, Black, and non-binary respondent groups disagreed that their employers are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable workplace (35%, 29%, and 35%, respectively), while only 15% to 17% of non-marginalized groups disagreed (15% of non-disabled and non-neurodivergent respondents, 15% of White respondents, 17% of men, 16% of women).
Respondents’ perceptions of equitable opportunity for promotion indicate biases persist.
- Gender identity: Most men agree there are equal promotion opportunities for people of all genders (62% in 2023 compared to 55% in 2018), while women (50%) and non-binary or gender diverse (26%) are less likely to agree.
- Race and ethnicity: Less than half of all respondents agree there are equal promotion opportunities for people of all ethnicities and Black respondents had the lowest rate of agreement (17%), followed by White (39%), Latine (41%), multiracial (45%), and Asian (46%).
- Sexual orientation: In 2023, 63% of heterosexual respondents agreed that people of all sexual orientations have equal opportunities for promotion and 67% of gay or lesbian respondents agreed. Bisexual, Asexual, Pansexual, and Queer had lower rates of agreement (61%, 54%, 50%, and 34% respectively).
- Age: Findings from 2018 persist in 2023. More than half of respondents older than 34 disagree that people of all ages have equal opportunities for promotion, and the older respondents were, the more likely they were to disagree (59% of the 65+ group, 56% of the 55-64 group, 52% of the 45-54 group, 46% of the 25-34 group).
For more insights on work/life balance, career development, and mentorship with recommendations for taking action for inclusive workplace cultures, [download the 2023 Executive Summary.]
Methodology
The 2023 survey was open from May 29 to July 17, 2023. There were 55 questions included and we received 1,755 responses to the Workplace Equity Survey in 2023, with an average of 1,513 responses to the demographic questions. Most responses were from people working at commercial, society, and university publishers (61%) living in North America (61%) or Europe (26%). 72% of respondents were women, and 75% self-identified as White. Most respondents were between the ages 25 to 44 (57% combined).
Data Availability Statement
The 2023 data (DOI to come) that support the findings of this study are openly available along with the 2018 data (doi: https://doi.org/10.3886/E116922V1) via the ICPSR archive.
2023 Workplace Equity Survey Group Members
Amy Beisel, Ellen C. Bush, Luis Claudio de Melo Brito Rocha, Supriyo Chatraboorty, Chhavi Chahuan, Melanie Dolechek, Simon Holt, Erin Landis, Camille Lemieux, Brenna McLauglin, Damita Snow, Susan Spilka, Anne Stone, Carolina Tanigushi, Simone Taylor, Jeri Wachter, Miranda Walker, Paige Wooden.