Google scraps Diversity Recruitment Goals

Google is the latest major US firm to drop its hiring targets for underrepresented groups.

The tech giant scrapped its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) recruitment goals after an annual review of its corporate policies.

It is also reviewing other DEI initiatives.

A Google spokesperson said: “We’re committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities.

“We’ve updated our [annual investor report] language to reflect this, and as a federal contractor our teams are also evaluating changes required following recent court decisions and executive orders on this topic.”

US President Donald Trump and his allies have frequently attacked DEI policies.

Since his return to the White House, Trump has ordered government agencies to eliminate such initiatives.

Between 2021 and 2024, Google’s investor reports highlighted its commitment to making “diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do”.

However, that statement is missing from its latest report.

Google had previously been a vocal supporter of DEI targets, especially after George Floyd’s murder in 2020.

Chief executive Sundar Pichai set a five-year target to increase the number of leaders from underrepresented groups by 30%.

Google said the proportion of black leaders almost doubled between 2020 and 2024, with increased representation of women and Latino leaders too.

Several major companies have recently scaled back DEI policies.

In an internal memo, Meta said it was ending its DEI programmes, including those for hiring, training and picking suppliers.

Amazon also said it was “winding down outdated programs and materials” related to representation and inclusion, in a memo to its staff.

McDonald’s, Walmart and Pepsi have all rolled back similar initiatives.

Apple has resisted this trend.

In January 2025, its board asked investors to reject a proposal by the conservative National Centre for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to abolish DEI policies.

The group claimed such policies expose companies to “litigation, reputational and financial risks”.

Target recently announced the end of its DEI targets after a lawsuit from shareholders in Florida accused it of hiding risks linked to its diversity policies.

The lawsuit followed backlash in 2023 over LGBTQ+ merchandise, which affected the company’s sales and stock price.

In a further move against DEI policies, President Trump recently suggested—without evidence—that diversity initiatives had contributed to an air crash in Washington DC. His comments came less than 24 hours after the crash.