The majority of black professionals make their mental well-being a top priority, more than any other racial group, according to a recently published report.
After surveying more than 2,500 knowledge workers (those with desk jobs) around the world in December, employment platform Oyster reported that nearly half of those surveyed chose mental wellbeing as their top priority, a number that is rising. to 58% for black workers.
“Perhaps black knowledge workers need to devote more energy to protecting their mental health and cannot afford to spend it elsewhere,” the report, published last Thursday, states.
Particularly in the US, Western Europe and Canada, where the majority of respondents reside, black knowledge workers’ ability to concentrate has been disproportionately affected by external factors, such as the rising cost of living and global health concerns.
“The data we have certainly shows that it’s not a universal experience,” said Simon Pickerill, Oyster’s content marketing manager and one of the survey’s lead researchers. «There are knowledge workers who are struggling, perhaps more than others.»
Compared to other racial groups, more black respondents (60%) reported that they struggle so much with the rising cost of living that they find it difficult to concentrate at work.
Additional findings:
- 55% of black workers believe that a safe and inclusive work environment is very important, almost 14 percentage points more than their white colleagues.
- 63% of black employees indicated that regular raises affect their well-being at work, compared to 48.3% of white workers.
- Black employees value access to mental health support (64%) more than their white colleagues (22%).
Pickerill said he hopes the survey results will inspire companies to think about how to provide additional support for employees from marginalized groups.
“One of the things that would be great to see is companies thinking, ‘How can we best support our Black employees?’” Pickerill said. “How can we better support our employees of color, make them feel safe, and provide them with an environment where they can truly thrive?”
Pickerill said he cross-checked the survey responses with past data on wages and employment opportunities for black workers, including a 2021 Investopedia report using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median weekly earnings for white employees are significantly higher than earnings for black workers, with white workers earning an average of more than $1,000 a week and black workers earning less than $900, according to data from Jan. 19, the Bureau of Labor Statistics. .
“That was one of the things that was important to cross-validate so we could see if our data is correct. Unfortunately, it seems that, in a way, it is,” Pickerill said. “Based on this data, it would make sense how black workers are struggling more with things like a higher cost of living and a failing economy when they earn less.”
But Pickerill said he hopes the main takeaway from the survey responses is not «pessimism.»
“It says ‘disappointment report,’ and that sounds like a negative. But we actually want it to be a really positive thing, because this could be a great call to action for employers to take better care of their employees, their teams,” Pickerill said.