Getting Our Kintsugi On
The 2020s are extraordinary times. We’ve been broken, separated, isolated to varying degrees, and then reconnected through digital technology. Global conversations have never been easier, only challenged with how to include people in different time zones in a single meeting. According to research, remote work is increasing long term but decreasing from an all-time high in the spring of 2020.
Extensive layoffs and downsizing have increased significantly in 2023, yet amidst this backdrop, the current unemployment rate stands at a surprising 3.8%. Our evolving economy requires specialized skills in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, which has witnessed a massive surge. Despite this demand, there's a shortage of qualified job seekers. The rise of new industries and job roles has intensified the competition for talent, making it increasingly challenging for businesses to locate individuals with the requisite skills and experience.
Adding to this complexity is the stark reality that the number of DEI leaders has dropped by a staggering 33% since 2019. These leaders are pivotal in ensuring a diverse pool of talent in the recruitment and promotion pipeline, and their dwindling presence raises significant concerns in the quest for greater workplace diversity and inclusivity.
A 2023 study by global consulting firm DDI reports the number of companies with DEI programs has dropped 33% since 2020, and leaders are far less optimistic about their organization’s progress in key DEI practices. Additionally, the report states an 18% decrease in the number of leaders who endorse their company’s DEI efforts over the past two years.
What does this mean for the future of sourcing and hiring emerging, qualified talent who represent the colorful, diverse, and unique world we live in today? The opportunity is limitless to bring diversity to the door and open it wide. Acknowledging our shared experiences and seeing the potential in the lessons of a few broken years opens our eyes to new things.
Kintsugi — which means to join with gold — is the Japanese art of repairing broken objects, often ceramic pottery or glass. Traditionally, gold lacquer is used to piece shards together again, creating a more beautiful object through the acts of breaking and repair.
In mending the broken pieces with gold, the imperfections are visible throughout the object, and in doing this, the creation becomes something even more beautiful and stronger.
Haven’t we all been broken? This is our shared humanity. Getting back up, facing the music, and seeing the broken parts as a path highlighted in gold, is our shared journey. Together, we grow, and we hold up the future of a diverse and equitable workforce to fill the gaps and make our world stronger.
