Throughout the month of February, Canadians take part in events and celebrations dedicated to Black History Month as a meaningful acknowledgment of the legacy of the Black community in Canada and its significant contributions.

And, as we move into the month, recent research conducted by KPMG in Canada reveals encouraging progress in the efforts of Canadian companies to deliver equity and inclusivity in the workplace for their Black employees over the past year. However, amid these positive strides, the survey underscores persistent challenges, with eight out of ten Black Canadians reporting instances of racism or microaggression in their workplaces.

The firm surveyed about 1,000 self-identified Black Canadians, 51% of them are men and the remaining percentage are women.

While Elio Luongo, CEO and senior partner at KPMG Canada, acknowledges the positive momentum in the third annual survey findings, he shares that there is still work to be done: “Despite these efforts, more than 80 per cent of Black Canadians faced racism in the workplace last year, nearly a 10% increase from what we found a year ago.”

The findings coincide with an alarming gradual surge in police-reported hate crimes in the country, with an 83% increase between 2019 and 2022. Toronto, in particular, witnessed a 42% spike in hate crimes in 2023, with a clear increase in crimes targeting the Jewish and Muslim communities. “As business leaders, we must continue our efforts to build equitable and inclusive workplaces where all our people feel welcomed and safe, and stand up against hate in our communities as well,” Luongo says in a KPMG press release.

Key survey findings include the following.

Positive acknowledgment: 83% of Black Canadians recognize that progress has been made by their employers in promoting equity and inclusivity for Black employees over the past year.

Strides since 2020: 82% believe their companies have made significant strides in creating a more equitable workplace since the global Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

Persistent challenges: 81% of respondents experienced a degree of racism or microaggressions at work in the last year.

Visible progress: 83% observe visible progress within their companies in cultivating Black talent for C-suite leadership roles.

Increased understanding: 75% of Black Canadians observe an improved understanding among co-workers about societal and workplace barriers in the past year.

Recognition challenges: Despite feeling valued, 78% feel they have to work harder than their non-Black colleagues for recognition, with variations across professions.

Perceived racism increase: 71% feel that racism in society has increased in the last year.

Open communication: 82% believe they can bring incidents of anti-Black racism to company leaders without being stigmatized.

Although the KPMG survey reflects positive shifts in workplace perceptions, acknowledging an increased understanding of societal and workplace barriers faced by Black Canadians, issues persist.

A significant portion of respondents still feel they have to put in a greater effort than their non-Black colleagues to receive recognition. Additionally, 73% of Black Canadians perceiving that their career progress and promotion prospects were affected by their company’s restructuring efforts over the past year. Moreover, 79% believe that Black or racialized individuals were among the first to lose their jobs. Despite this, 83% of Black Canadians feel valued and respected in the same way as their non-Black colleagues, marking a 5% increase over the previous year and a 9% increase since 2022.

While the data indicates positive aspects, it certainly underscores the imperative for ongoing efforts to address anti-black racism and establish truly inclusive workplaces. Companies and brands should remain vigilant in their commitment to combating racism within their ranks.