Almost two-thirds of employees admit that their company does not have a diverse workforce or are unaware if they do.

These are the findings of jobsite Monster, that discovered a mere 38% place diversity as a big priority, whilst 11% said their company is starting to think about it but it’s not really a reality.

According to a local government white paper, minority groups and the disabled are still missing out on job opportunities. Less than half of the disabled population of working age are in employment and people from black Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities have significantly higher unemployment rates and lower average earnings than white people.

Commenting on the benefits a diverse workforce can bring, Rob Brouwer, CEO of Monster UK and Ireland said: "Employers may not be aware of the rewards a diverse workforce can reap for their business. People from different backgrounds provide the workforce with a broader skill set and cultural differences in practice. It also enables you to select from a bigger pool of candidates."

The Employment Equality Regulations are due to be updated later this year to ensure the Equal Treatment Directive is adequately implemented.