Research reveals the most inclusive countries to live and work in
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are essential to a healthy and successful workplace, but which country sets the gold standard when it comes to creating a safe and supportive environment for its workforce?
Global workspace provider Instant Offices has analysed and scored high GDP nations based on based on their treatment of women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQI+ employees. to rank the most inclusive countries in the world to work in.
The Top 3 Most Inclusive Countries to Work In
Norway, Canada, and Sweden score the highest overall when ranking countries by their overall inclusivity (see table below).
| RANK | COUNTRY | INCLUSIVITY SCORE | EQUALITY INDEX | % DEI PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO TEAMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 75.98 | 86 | 36% |
| 2 | Canada | 74.4 | 83 | 44% |
| 3 | Sweden | 75.64 | 77 | 44% |
It’s worth noting that these countries also make the top 10 in the Berkeley Otherness & Belonging Institute’s Inclusiveness Index for 2023. The Institute’s rankings also consider religious tolerance and the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace.
Female First: The Countries Leading the Way for Women in the Workforce
Norway, the Netherlands and Canada all scored top marks for providing an inclusive environment for women in the workplace (see table below).
| RANK | COUNTRY | WORKFORCE GENDER GAP | SAFETY SCORE FOR WOMEN | GENDER EQUALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 87 | 260 | 0.03 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 77 | 303 | 0.02 |
| 3 | Canada | 77 | 291 | 0.07 |
Norway in particular, is blazing a trail for women in high-earning positions. Last year, the Norwegian government introduced a quota for women’s representation on the boards of large- and medium-sized private firms. Norway also offers some of the highest paid maternity leave in the world, at 49 weeks.
However, the Netherlands and Canada score higher in terms of safety, providing the most secure working environments for women globally.
Netherlands Tops Global Rankings as the Most LGBTQ-Friendly Nation
ILGA Europe’s latest annual review shows a rise in LGBTQI+ acceptance across many European countries however the Netherlands ranks number one for providing a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQA+ employees to work in.
The Netherlands also tops the charts as the best place for LGBTQI+ employees to live with the highest score for social acceptance of LGBTQI+ people in the world (9.5).
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