Diversity strategies take root in client-side marketing

The US marketing/advertising industry is more diverse than ever, according to a new study by the ANA, the US advertising industry’s trade association, and the ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM). 

Why it matters

A Diversity Report for the Advertising/Marketing Industry is the fourth iteration of a study that began in 2018. The trends now evident reinforce an assessment that diversity strategies are beginning to take hold among the client-side marketer community – a development that holds long-term implications for the sort of work the industry produces.

Key findings 

• Asian representation continues its strong trends relative to their proportion of the US population (11.7% vs 5.9%). However, African American/Black (6.6% vs 12.1%) and Hispanic/Latino (8.9% vs 18.7%) are significantly underrepresented.
• Ethnic diversity has improved across every tier of seniority, including CMOs (13.7% in 2021 vs 13% in 2018), senior-level executives (28.5% vs 26.2%), and entry level professionals (33.1% vs 30.8%).
• The industry continues to skew female; around two-thirds of ANA members are female, with women occupying more than half of senior level positions including CMOs.
• Just over half of ANA member companies provide employees the opportunity to self-identify as LGBTQ+; more than three quarters afford that option to persons with a disability.

Sourced from ANA