Some of Alabama's largest employers named in list of nation's top 50 companies for diversity

DiversityInc has released its 21st annual list of the nation’s top 50 companies for diversity.

The rankings recognize companies that hire, retain and promote women, racial minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ and veterans.

Launched in 2001, the list is compiled based on confidential data gathered from thousands of corporations participating in DiversityInc’s survey. It is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, data-driven diversity and inclusion analysis of the largest U.S. employers who voluntarily choose to participate. The assessment collects data across six key areas: Leadership Accountability, Human Capital Diversity Metrics, Talent Programs, Workforce Practices, Supplier Diversity and Philanthropy.

Some of Alabama’s top employers were named on the prestigious list, including Toyota Motor North America at No. 7.

In addition to its under-construction joint venture factory with Mazda in Huntsville, Toyota currently operates a major engine plant in the Rocket City. The company was also included in six DiversityInc specialty lists for 2021. This included being named the top company in the nation when it comes to diversity among its board of directors; No. 5 for talent acquisition for women of color; and No. 12 for Black executives.

Other major Alabama employers named 2021 top-50 companies for diversity included BASF (No. 12), the Boeing Company (No. 17), Southern Company (No. 20), Northrop Grumman (No. 21) and Raytheon Technologies (No. 45).

Southern Company, the parent company of Alabama Power, was specifically recognized for its Propel Center, among other initiatives. The Propel Center is a new digital learning hub, business incubator and global innovation headquarters in Atlanta for students of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including those in Alabama such as Miles College.

The Propel Center continues the work that was established by Alabama Power and Apple in February 2020 with the launch of Birmingham’s Ed Farm, an education initiative supported by the Alabama Power Foundation. Ed Farm aims to equip educators and communities in Alabama with innovative tools and strategies that support active learning for all students. Among Ed Farm’s goals: to increase educational equity, improve learning outcomes through technology and prepare the future tech workforce.

“We are committed to being a role model among companies forging change. Southern Company has embraced a more holistic goal of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to help ensure that all groups — especially historically underrepresented and marginalized groups — are well-represented and fairly treated within all levels of the organization and that all our employees feel welcomed, included, valued and respected,” stated Tom Fanning, who serves as president, chairman and CEO of Southern Company.

Southern Company was also named by DiversityInc as the No. 3 top company for Black executives in the United States, No. 12 for supplier diversity and No. 4 for veterans. Southern Company was specially honored for being a top company when it comes to environmental, social and governance.

Additionally, DiversityInc named a separate list of “2021 noteworthy companies.” Essentially honorable mentions for the year, this list is comprised of companies whose data indicates they have the potential to make the DiversityInc Top 50 list in the near future. Named on this list were 41 companies in alphabetical order, including Birmingham-based Regions Financial Corp., Birmingham-headquartered BBVA USA and Leidos — the parent company of Huntsville-based Dynetics.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn