Colorado Sees Sharper Drop in DEI Jobs Than National Average, Data Shows

Diversity, equity and inclusion jobs are on the decline across the United States—and Colorado appears to be shedding them at an even faster rate.

According to data compiled by workforce research firm Revelio Labs and shared with Colorado Public Radio, DEI roles in Colorado have dropped by 17.5 percent since 2023, outpacing the national decline of about 12.5 percent. That means the state is losing these positions at a rate 1.35 times greater than the national average.

The analysis, based on 8.8 million professional online profiles from platforms like LinkedIn, identified positions with titles that include terms such as “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion” or “DEI.” While this methodology doesn't capture every role involved in diversity efforts—particularly if the job title doesn’t include those keywords—researchers say it offers a meaningful snapshot.

“In 2023, there were 330 DEI roles in Colorado. As of April 2025, that number had declined to 272,” said Lisa Simon, chief economist at Revelio Labs. “Since January 2023, 173 DEI employees in Colorado have left their positions—whether or not those roles were backfilled.”

The findings mirror broader national patterns, as detailed in a May 27 report from NPR. Revelio’s team attributes the contraction, in part, to political and economic shifts, including waning corporate momentum behind DEI efforts that surged following the 2020 killing of George Floyd.

Among Colorado companies listed with notable declines, food manufacturer Danone stood out. According to Revelio, the company dropped from 20 DEI positions in 2023 to just one in 2025. Danone disputes the numbers.

“This data is definitely not correct for our U.S. business,” said spokesperson Gemma Hart. “We have a team of three leading our Opportunity and Belonging work in the U.S., and that headcount hasn’t changed in several years.”

Revelio Labs acknowledged limitations in its methodology—namely, that social media data can lag behind real-time job changes and not all professionals update their profiles promptly.

Still, Simon said such platforms function as informal résumés and help reveal trends: “We can see inward and outward transitions from companies and roles. This is how we put this together.”