DiversityInc Tuesday announced its 2017 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list and global professional services company EY took the number one slot. Prior to this year's competition, EY has been among the Top 10 for the past eight years

"Like the other companies high on the DiversityInc Top 50, EY understands diversity and inclusion is critical to business and rooted in finding the best talent," said DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti. "EY is number one because the company worked harder than all others and has deep CEO engagement with Steve Howe, who has empowered his people to do their job, and they did it."

The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation's top companies for diversity and inclusion management. These companies excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT and veterans.

In addition to its position on the Top 50, EY also landed on nine specialty lists, including No.1 for Executive Women, People with Disabilities, Diversity Councils, Employee Resource Groups and Mentoring.

DiversityInc's extensive annual survey yields an empirically driven ranking based on recruitment, talent development, senior leadership commitment and supplier diversity. This year's competition was improved by new survey questions, increased emphasis on fairness over chasing numbers and more sophisticated analysis from DiversityInc data scientists.

To view the complete Top 50 and specialty lists, visit http://www.diversityinc.com/top50.