The website Zippia, the online recruitment company, publishes job title demographics. While “mediator” can include a number of activities in various settings, the site identified 2700 mediators in the U.S., which is far less than the number of individuals who identify as mediators. Nonetheless, this resource provides some interesting data.

To better understand who is included in the report, it is useful to begin with areas of employment. Some 24% were positions in government, 16% non-profits, and 15% education. The unemployment rate has been less than 2% for at least ten years.

Of this group, 60% are female; 40% male. In the past ten years, the percentage of women has increased to 55%. This is consistent with my own experience meeting volunteer mediators where there is typically a higher percentage of women particpants.

By Age: 30% are 30 to 40 years-old and 65% are 40 and older.

By Education: 58% have Bachelor’s degrees, 14% Master’s, and 18% Doctorates.

By Ethnicity: 80% are White, 7% Hispanic, 6% Asian American, and 5.5% African-American. Current U.S. demographics, while not using the exact same categories, are 62% White, 6% Asian-American, 12% African-American, and 18% Hispanic.

This data reflects mediators employed in large organizations. If the larger pool had been identified, including self-employed and volunteer mediators, the demographic profile would most certainly be different. My assumption is a larger group will likely reflect an even high percentage of women and ethnic diversity.

I recently received a call from an individual involved in a separation asking, “just what is faith-based mediation?” Her partner proposed they explore that option before separating.

Faith-based mediation refers to a format in which religious creed and institutions play an important role. The participants share the same faith and beliefs. Faith-based mediation places a value on the relationship between the parties and their denomination making it possible to reconcile, or redefine their relationship within the context of their spirituality.

Faith-based mediation employs religious texts, values and vocabulary while placing an emphasis on theological identity. The mediators who conduct these sessions are ones with extensive knowledge of sacred texts. As a result, they are more likely to understand the participants position and expectations.

Faith-based mediators employ sacred sources as tools to help the parties understand their conflict and develop a path for forgiveness, restoration, and ability to move forward together.

The individual who called me with the question later reported that she agreed to the mediation and it helped to redefine and reestablish their relationship.