WASHINGTON, D.C. — Most Americans continue to see diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as part of a company’s responsibility. Still, fewer now view it as a top business priority, even as many continue to link diversity with greater innovation and stronger profits.
Fewer See DEI as a Priority or Believe Businesses Are Promoting It Well
According to the latest Bentley University-Gallup Business in Society survey, 69% of U.S. adults say it is extremely or somewhat important for businesses to promote DEI — the lowest level since tracking began in 2022. Only 35% say businesses are doing an excellent or good job at promoting DEI, which is also a new low.
These findings from the latest Bentley University-Gallup Business in Society survey are based on a web survey of 3,007 U.S. adults conducted from May 5-12, 2025, using the probability-based Gallup Panel.
Expectations for corporate responsibility beyond DEI remain high. Nearly all Americans say companies should provide quality healthcare to employees (96%), support local communities (95%), operate sustainably (91%), offer mental health support (91%) and work to improve the world more broadly (90%).
Yet Americans are far less likely to say companies are delivering in specific, high-priority areas. Alongside declining ratings of business performance on DEI, the findings highlight a persistent general disconnect between what people expect from businesses and how they judge their performance.
Multiple bar charts. Percentages of Americans who think companies lag behind public expectations in key areas.
Much of the national decline in support for DEI as a business priority stems from a dramatic shift among Republicans. From 2024 to 2025, agreement among Republicans that DEI should be a priority for businesses dropped from 49% to 33%. Democrats (96%) and independents (67%) are far more likely than Republicans to say it is important for businesses to promote DEI.
Differences are also evident across demographic groups. Black adults (88%), Asian adults (78%), Hispanic adults (75%) and women (79%) are more likely than White adults (63%) and men (56%) to view DEI as important for businesses to promote.
Still, most major demographic groups believe DEI matters in business, even as Americans are broadly united in the view that businesses are not delivering on it.
Diversity as a Business Factor
Americans’ views on the benefits or drawbacks of workplace diversity reveal a more nuanced mix of views. At least six in 10 Americans believe that businesses with a diverse workforce are more profitable (61%) and more innovative (64%).
At the same time, just over a third of Americans (35%) believe diverse workforces have more conflicts among employees and believe there is more employee discrimination in diverse workforces (36%). Majorities of 65% and 64%, respectively, disagree.
While there has been no significant change over the past year in Americans’ attitudes toward the two possible advantages of DEI, the percentages agreeing with the disadvantages have edged up slightly.
This is mostly attributable to Republicans, who became more likely in 2025 to believe diversity is a source of internal problems. The percentage of Republicans saying diversity leads to greater conflict among employees rose from 44% in 2024 to 57% in 2025, while those saying it increases workplace discrimination rose from 40% to 50%.
Notably, more Americans than in 2024 describe both the benefits and the challenges as “completely true,” suggesting that attitudes about diversity are not softening, but hardening — with stronger views emerging on both sides of the issue.
Diversity as a Public Issue
Results from the latest Bentley–Gallup Business in Society survey also show increased public expectations for business engagement on social issues, including diversity. In 2025, a majority of Americans say companies should speak out on five of the 12 issues measured — up from three issues in 2024, with free speech (58%) and healthcare (55%) joining diversity (56%), mental health (57%) and climate change (58%).
Bottom Line
Americans continue to see DEI as a business responsibility and link diversity to performance, but many remain skeptical that companies are delivering. At the same time, more than half say businesses should take a public stance on diversity, underscoring rising expectations for visible leadership on the issue.
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