Candace Byrdsong Williams once thrived in the world of corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Her North Carolina home, filled with reminders of her three daughters and motivational quotes, also houses the textbooks and manuals of a career she spent nearly two decades building. But after being laid off last August, Byrdsong Williams—like thousands of other DEI professionals—faces a dramatically shrinking job market.
The Changing Political and Corporate Landscape
The decline in DEI roles has accelerated since President Trump’s re-election and his administration’s swift moves to restrict what it calls “illegal DEI.” This political shift has prompted many large companies to pull back on DEI initiatives, fearing regulatory scrutiny or backlash. For example, Verizon, in the midst of a major merger, announced it would end its DEI programs altogether.
According to workforce analytics firm Revelio Labs, more than 2,600 DEI-related positions have been eliminated since early 2023—about 13% of all such jobs at the height of the DEI hiring boom.
From George Floyd to Today: A Reversal of Fortune
The murder of George Floyd in 2020 sparked a wave of corporate commitments to fight discrimination and increase workplace diversity. Companies hired thousands of DEI professionals, and by early 2023, over 20,000 people held such roles—double the number from just a few years prior.
However, a conservative backlash soon followed. Critics argued that DEI policies discriminated against white employees, and high-profile controversies—like the Bud Light boycott—fueled further retreat. Trump’s executive orders and public condemnation of DEI as “radical and wasteful” have accelerated the rollback.
Now, even companies that once championed DEI are rebranding or quietly dropping these programs. Walmart and Target, for example, now use terms like “belonging” instead of “diversity.” Others, like Meta and Amazon, have scaled back or eliminated DEI roles altogether.
The Human Impact
For professionals like Byrdsong Williams, the consequences are deeply personal. After years of helping companies build more inclusive workplaces—by creating mentoring programs, supporting underrepresented employees, and broadening recruitment—she now finds herself unemployed and facing a job market where DEI has become a taboo subject.
The loss of DEI jobs disproportionately affects women and people of color. Revelio Labs found that women held over 70% of DEI roles, and Black and Latino professionals were far more likely to work in these positions than in other corporate jobs. As companies retreat from DEI, these groups are hit hardest.
What’s Next for DEI?
Some companies, like Costco and Delta, continue to support their DEI programs. Others are making only superficial changes, swapping out terminology but keeping core initiatives alive. Still, the overall trend is clear: hiring for DEI roles is declining, and many positions are being absorbed into broader human resources functions.
Despite the setbacks, Byrdsong Williams remains hopeful. She’s now applying for roles in “people and culture transformation,” hoping that the value of her work will outlast the current political climate. As she reflects on her journey, she draws inspiration from a museum exhibit titled “Leap of Faith”—a fitting metaphor for her ongoing search for meaningful work.
The DEI job market in the U.S. is shrinking rapidly due to political pressure and corporate retrenchment, especially after Trump’s re-election and new executive orders. This trend is disproportionately affecting women and people of color, leaving many experienced professionals like Byrdsong Williams searching for new opportunities and hoping for a shift in the national conversation.