Diversity | Southwest Careers

Be part of a winning Team.

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People are, and always have been, the heartbeat of Southwest Airlines^®. Take in their personal perspectives on life, work, and what it means to have a career with Heart.

Bring your authentic self

No matter where you're flying from or what area of Southwest® interests you, we're connecting each other to what matters most. By fostering a Culture that cares for and embraces diversity, we recognize that every experience, perspective, and background makes an incredible impact on our Company. We encourage bringing your authentic self to work and celebrating what makes you unique! We're committed to integrating neurodivergent friendly practices into all stages of our hiring process, starting the day you find out about your dream career and continuing until your retirement, and beyond. After all, we wouldn’t be Southwest without our People, who are the Heart of it all.

We created our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitment because we're listening and taking meaningful action toward building allyship together. We know change is a journey that requires intentional action, honest dialogue, and open hearts and minds. Over time, data can begin to tell the story of how we are changing—it'll be a story that we'll write together.

Explore our 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report

Our commitment to inclusion

Read our DEI Report

Diversifying our Senior Leadership Team

Continuously striving for increased diversity in our Senior Leadership positions.

Diversifying our Senior Management Committee

Doubling the percentage of racial diversity and increasing gender diversity by 2025.

Engaging our community partners

Investing in our community relationships to support our continual search for diverse talent.

Evolving our hiring and development practices

Supporting our diversity goals through inclusive hiring practices at all levels of Leadership.

Woman speaking on stage at the Inclusion Summit

A woman leaning down to kiss a dog on their nose

Six people on the stage speaking at an Inclusion Summit

Two Southwest Employees smiling at the camera

We love our Employee Resource Groups

Wanna know that you belong? Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are formed around a significant dimension of diversity or identity. Supported by Southwest Leadership, these groups promote belonging by championing Southwest’s Values and encouraging community. ERGs are open to all Employees who support the group's mission, regardless of whether the Employee shares in the common dimension of diversity or identity.

Southwest provides each ERG with an annual budget, including funds to donate to a non-profit of their choice. In total, our ERGs have served more than 400 service hours and donated thousands of dollars to non-profits along with over 20,000 items, including women's feminine products, school supplies, and books.There are more than 4,000 members across seven of our current ERGs:

Able@SWA – Employees with Disabilities and Allies
B.E.A.T@SWA – Black Excellence Advancing Together

Out & Proud@SWA – LGBTQ+ Employees and Allies
R.A.P.I.D.@SWA – Resilient Asian and Pacific Islander Descendents and Allies
Women@SWA – Employees and Allies

Corazón@SWA – Hispanic and Latinx Employees and Allies
Military@SWA – Military Employees and Allies

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Inspiring Future Aviators

Captain Geoff brings inclusivity onboard our aircraft, throughout the Company, and with the next generation of aviators through Southwest Airlines partnerships.

Through the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Aerospace Career Education Academy, Captain Geoff encourages and inspires students of all ages to pursue their dreams and discover that the sky isn't the limit.

Discover how Geoff inspires

"A career at Southwest is one where Employees feel welcomed to bring their whole selves to work; where Employees are encouraged to bring their talent, creativity, and individuality and are accepted for what they offer. Our principle of putting People first means we value the unique thoughts, backgrounds, and experiences of our Employees. We recognize the importance of diversity in our hiring efforts and creating equitable opportunities for Candidates to flourish and thrive."

Juan Suarez

Vice President of Corporate Citizenship & Chief Inclusion Officer

Two pilots walking down the jetbridge smiling at each other

We have careers with Heart.

Photo of Captain Atif F. speaking in a classroom to students

Captain Atif F. inspires the next generation through lessons in aviation for our Adopt-A-Pilot® program

Photo of Eureka D. smiling at a recruiting event

Senior Technology Project Manager Eureka D. shares how Prairie View A&M University “chose her” due to an Army scholarship

Photo of Jen M. holding a flashlight and inspecting the aircraft

Aircraft Quality Control Inspector Jen M.’s advice? “Go after what you actually want to do in life … don’t settle!”

Photo of Holly and Keely P. in front of a Southwest aircraft

First Officer Keely P. and her mom, Captain Holly P., made Southwest history by becoming the first-ever mother/daughter Pilot duo.

Photo of Captain Geoff B. smiling from the flight deck

Captain Geoff B. encourages and inspires students of all ages to pursue their dreams and discover that the sky isn't the limit.

Inclusion Council

The Southwest Airlines Inclusion Council is a diverse group of Employees from different backgrounds, roles, and locations
across the Company, including the Chairs and Co-chairs of our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Founded over 15 years ago, the Council evolves its purpose and vision to best serve the needs of Southwest Airlines’ Employees.

This council, dedicated to our Employees, nurtures our Culture of caring for one another and promotes allyship through data-driven action across the Company. It also provides a feedback channel representing diverse perspectives and serves as a strategic asset and advisory board to help Senior Leaders in their continued efforts to promote a Culture of Belonging.

Image of Southwest's Diversity Council group

Wanna learn more about our upcoming events?

Check out our events page

Our hiring programs

Campus Reach

Our Campus Reach program identifies and engages future Southwest Employees at an early age, hopefully inspiring an interest in a career in aviation.

Learn more about Campus Reach

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Destination 225°^®

Wonder why Destination 225°? On a compass rose, 225° is the southwest heading, and we developed the Destination 225° program to lead aspiring pilots to Southwest Airlines.

Learn more about Destination 225°

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Military

We're grateful for our military service members who give us the freedom to fly. Our colors may be red, yellow, and blue, but our Southwest Heart beats red, white, and blue.

Learn about our military support

Partnerships that matter

At Southwest, we’re proud to support and create valuable connections to the communities you know and love. Whether in the air or on the ground, we believe community is more than a place—it’s at the Heart of what brings us together. Below are just a few of our 400+ partnerships, supporting impact across our diverse communities. Learn more about our DEI partnerships and awards.

Partner with us

"Inclusion has always been at the Heart of who we are at Southwest, and we’re committed to evolving our hiring, training, and development processes to drive progress and change. By engaging, understanding, and drawing on a variety of perspectives we can continue to celebrate our People and further enrich our Culture."

Elizabeth Bryant

Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer

Southwest Employee with prosthetic leg working on the ramp

Accommodations

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that provides reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online careers page or participating in the hiring process due to your disability and need an accommodation, you may email Accommodations.Team@wnco.com.

Please use "Accommodation Request" as the subject line of your email or call us at (877) 792-4792.

For more information on Southwest's hiring practices, please see the following policies:

Disability Discrimination and Workplace Accommodation Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy for Persons with Disabilities and Covered Veterans

Affirmative Action Policy for Women and Minorities
If you’d like to view a copy of our Veteran Affirmative Action Plans, please email Employment.Compliance@wnco.com.

Southwest Airlines Policy Concerning Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation

For audio versions of the policies, download the policies and open them in Acrobat Reader. Select View >Read Out Loud >Activate Read Out Loud. Then select View >Read Out Loud >Read To End of Document.