The Events Industry Council (EIC) has released the results of its 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study, which has revealed widespread diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) dissatisfaction among event professionals, minority groups, and women.

The study, released in partnership with the council’s global EIC Equity Task Force, included a series of EIC leadership focus group discussions and an AI-based chatbot survey of 1,404 event professionals across the industry.

It found that employed event professionals (83% of all survey respondents) are significantly more dissatisfied with DEI in the industry than those who are self-employed or have alternative employment types.

In addition, 61% of all surveyed event professionals identified as White and are predominant across all job grades, with minimal representation from other ethnicities, especially in senior management (15% Black) and board (6% Black) positions.

Respondents who identify as Black (16%) rated their DEI experience 11% lower across all four dimensions than respondents who identified as White.

More than 75% of the survey’s respondents identified as female, and they are well represented in managerial and senior roles. Six out of 10 (61%) female respondents are in ‘senior management’ and ‘board’ job grades but rated their DEI experience significantly lower than male respondents (21%).

The study is the critical first phase of the EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan. The current DEI experience in the events industry was measured across four dimensions: ownership, accountability and power of influence, delivering change, and sustaining change. The global survey was conducted by Tharoor Associates and Culturelytics from September 2021 to January 2022.

The EIC appointed its Equity Task Force in 2020 to address systemic racism and all forms of discrimination in the business events and hospitality industry.

EIC CEO Amy Calvert said: “It’s crucial that we champion inclusivity in our sector as a means to drive economic and social progress.

“DEI needs to be embraced by organisational leadership to be effective. Results from our 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study underscore we have a significant way to go, particularly advancing ethnic diversity, gender inclusivity, and equity in leadership and influential positions.

“EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan will enable us to measure progress as well as improve our ability to deliver impact and sustain change.”