A new AICPA report has found an increasing number of ethnic minority students are enrolling in and graduating from accounting programs. So, why has minority hiring by CPA firms remained flat since 2012?
The AICPA’s report, 2019 Trends in the Supply of Accounting Graduates and The Demand for Public Accounting Recruits, found 44% of undergraduate students and 42% of accounting graduates of the 2017-2018 academic year were of some ethnic minority. The report reflects a significant boost from a decade ago, where the numbers were about 31% and 30%.
How can accounting firms focus on inclusion within the profession? Having difficult conversations and working to address unconscious bias are great steps toward building a culture of inclusion and belonging.