Building a Diverse Workforce
Discover how social enterprises are leading the way in workforce diversity, offering insights and strategies that can benefit businesses and communities alike.
The Power of Diverse Workforces
A diverse team isn’t just good for society—it’s great for business. Bringing together people from different backgrounds, skills, and experiences helps organisations connect with more customers, solve problems creatively, and adapt to change. While the benefits of diversity are clear, the best ways to manage it can be tricky. That’s where social enterprises come in.
The below report, Managing Workforce Diversity: Social Enterprises as an Exemplar (Muurlink & Smith, 2024), produced by researchers from Central Queensland University (CQU), explores how social enterprises lead the way in creating inclusive and successful workplaces.
Managing diversity successfully means more of the Australian population is employed; lower unemployment has cascading effects for society including better health and lower crime.“
Managing Workforce Diversity: Social Enterprises as an Exemplar report
Why Diversity Matters
Diversity in the workplace makes businesses stronger and communities more connected. When companies embrace diverse hiring, they gain new perspectives, foster innovation, and build more inclusive cultures. On a bigger scale, diversity also boosts employment, improves well-being, and reduces social issues like crime.
However, diversity isn’t just about hiring—it’s about making sure employees feel valued and supported. Some organisations struggle with integrating diversity effectively. Research suggests that companies that actively foster inclusivity see better employee engagement, lower turnover rates, and stronger team performance. Studies have also found that diverse teams are more adaptable in a changing economy, helping businesses stay competitive in an evolving marketplace.
This report breaks down both the opportunities and challenges of workplace diversity, featuring fresh research from Queensland’s social enterprise sector.
Workforce Diversity in QLD Social Enterprises
- Gender 71%
- Disability 57%
- Indigenous 52%
- Migrant 52%
- Neurodiversity 38%
- Refugee 24%
- Veterans 5%
What Social Enterprises Teach Us
Social enterprises are businesses with a social mission. Many focus on providing jobs for people who often face barriers to employment—such as people with disabilities, migrants, or those who have been in the justice system.
Key insights from the report include:
Retention
Social enterprises do a great job recruiting diverse employees, but they work hard to keep and train them.
Leadership
Inclusive leadership and supportive workplace cultures make a huge difference in how well diversity works.
Support
Government support, especially through social procurement, plays a big role in helping businesses create more inclusive workplaces.
How Businesses Can Apply These Lessons
Mainstream businesses can learn a lot from social enterprises. Some key takeaways include:
- Seeing diversity as an advantage rather than a challenge leads to better hiring and retention.
- Strong leadership and structured support help teams work better together.
- Tracking diversity efforts and measuring success ensures long-term impact.
This report offers practical insights into making workplaces more diverse and inclusive. Whether you’re a business owner looking for better hiring strategies or a policymaker shaping the future of work, this research provides valuable guidance.
With thanks to:
How do I build a diverse workforce?
Case Studies
Learn from others who have done it – our Case Studies show the impact of a diverse workforce on both the employee and the business
Best Practices
Implement best practices – ensure your company policies reflect the needs of diverse employees
Downloads
Take action – our Downloads make sure you’re ready to hit the ground running.