The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) launched its UK PR and Communications Census 2024 in December last year. It raised concerns around the widening ethnicity pay gap and a decline in DEI efforts by businesses

PRCA’s chair Ray Eglington said: "The 2024 Census is both a celebration of progress and a stark reminder of the work still needed to create an equitable and inclusive industry. We urge organisations to take decisive action, committing to robust diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies. This includes tackling the ethnicity pay gap, advancing support for neurodivergent professionals, and creating fairer pathways to leadership for underrepresented groups."

An online survey completed by 500 respondents between 3rd and 30th October 2024 found the following:

The workforce continues to diversify, with 31% of professionals identifying as non-White, up from 13% in 2021. Additionally, 23% of practitioners are non-British nationals, a notable rise from 16% three years ago. EU nationals now account for 10% of the workforce, while 8% come from outside the EU.

The PR industry faces a widening ethnicity pay gap, now at £14,638 in 2024—a 25.6% disparity, up significantly from 16% in 2021. White professionals earn an average salary of £57,153, compared to £42,515 for non-White professionals.

The 11.8% gender pay gap shows marginal improvement from 2021 but remains a challenge in a female-dominated sector.

For the first time, the Census reports that 20% of professionals identify as neurodivergent, with ADHD (36%), autism (26%), and dyslexia (22%) being the most common conditions. But 65% of neurodivergent professionals report negative impacts at work, often linked to unmet support needs, including stress, anxiety, and burnout.