Americans Increasingly See Business Benefits from Diverse Workforces

A growing share of Americans believe that workforce diversity benefits businesses, with views becoming more positive across party lines despite continued political debate over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to a Bentley University-Gallup survey reported by Forbes.

Americans' views of the business benefits of workforce diversity have become more positive across party lines, according to a 2026 Bentley University-Gallup survey.

The share of Americans who say it is somewhat or completely true that businesses with diverse workforces are more profitable rose to 71% in 2026, from 61% in 2025. The percentage saying businesses with diverse workforces make more innovative products also increased, reaching 75% from 64% a year earlier.

The increase was recorded among Democrats, independents and Republicans.

Among Republicans, 41% said diverse workforces are more profitable, up 11 percentage points from 2025, while 46% said diverse workforces make more innovative products, also an 11-point increase.

Republicans nevertheless remained more skeptical than Democrats and independents on both measures.

The survey also found that 72% of Americans consider promoting diversity, equity and inclusion to be a somewhat or extremely important priority for businesses.

However, only 34% rated businesses as doing a good or excellent job in promoting DEI.

Major U.S. companies have scaled back or changed some DEI initiatives in recent years amid political pressure, legal concerns and changing corporate strategies. Companies including Walmart, Target, Amazon and Meta have made changes to their DEI programs.

Trump's administration has also taken steps to eliminate DEI programs across the federal government and has criticized corporate DEI initiatives.

The survey results, however, measure Americans' perceptions of the relationship between workforce diversity and business performance. They do not establish that DEI programs themselves caused higher profitability or innovation.