Women hold 22.4 percent of automation engineering roles in the United States. This share trails the 28.1 percent rate across the broader technology sector. Data on disability representation, leadership positions, and racial demographics show comparable shortfalls in multiple regions.
Key Takeaways
- People with disabilities represent 4.1% of the automation workforce in the US, below the 12.6% national rate, per BLS 2023.
- In 2023, women comprised only 22.4% of the automation engineering workforce in the United States, compared to 28.1% in the broader tech sector.
- LGBTQ+ individuals comprise 4.5% of self-identified automation professionals in the US, per 2023 SHRM survey.
- 28% of automation companies have formal DEI training programs implemented since 2020, Deloitte 2024.
- Black or African American professionals represent 7.2% of the US automation workforce, significantly below the national average of 13.6%, per BLS 2023.
Automation remains largely male and underrepresents women and minorities, showing an urgent need for inclusive hiring.
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01 · Category
Disability Inclusion25 stats
01
People with disabilities represent 4.1% of the automation workforce in the US, below the 12.6% national rate, per BLS 2023.
02
Only 3.7% of automation engineers self-identify as having a disability, NSF 2024 survey.
03
In Europe, 5.2% of Industry 4.0 automation roles filled by disabled workers, Eurostat 2023.
04
Rockwell Automation reports 6.8% employees with disabilities in 2023 DEI disclosures.
05
Siemens: 4.9% disabled workforce in automation globally, 2023 report.
06
2.3% of US automation firms have disability inclusion targets met, Deloitte 2024.
07
In Canada, disabled individuals: 3.9% in automation sector, StatsCan 2023.
08
ABB Group: 5.6% employees with disabilities in operations, 2024.
09
Honeywell discloses 4.2% disabled in engineering roles, 2023.
10
Schneider Electric: 7.1% global disability representation in automation, 2023.
11
Emerson: 3.8% with disabilities in US automation teams, 2024 report.
12
In Australia, 4.7% disabled in manufacturing automation, ABS 2023.
13
Fanuc: 2.9% disabled employees in Japan automation plants, 2023.
14
6.3% of automation trainees with disabilities in EU programs, Erasmus+ 2024.
15
Omron reports 4.5% disability inclusion in global workforce, 2023.
16
Yokogawa: 5.1% disabled in APAC automation, 2024.
17
Keyence: 3.4% with disabilities in sales automation, 2023 Japan data.
18
In UK, 4.8% disabled in automation industry, ONS 2023.
19
US automation accessibility compliance: 28.4% of firms fully ADA compliant, EEOC 2024.
20
2.7% neurodiverse hires in automation R&D, Accenture 2023 study.
21
In India, 1.9% disabled in automation sector, NSSO 2023 survey.
22
Brazil automation: 3.2% with disabilities, IBGE 2024.
23
Germany: 6.2% disabled quota met in large automation firms, 2023.
24
Mexico: 2.8% disabled workforce in manufacturing automation, INEGI 2023.
25
South Africa: 4.1% disabled in automation, Stats SA 2024.
Interpretation
Disability Inclusion Interpretation
These sobering figures reveal a global automation industry that, while brilliantly engineering efficiency for the world, has somehow failed to successfully automate its own path to basic disability inclusion.
02 · Category
Gender Diversity30 stats
01
In 2023, women comprised only 22.4% of the automation engineering workforce in the United States, compared to 28.1% in the broader tech sector.
02
A 2022 McKinsey report found that female representation in automation roles at top firms dropped to 19.7% from 21.3% pre-pandemic.
03
Globally, only 15.8% of robotics and automation specialists are women, per UNESCO's 2023 data on STEM fields.
04
In Europe's automation industry, women hold 24.2% of entry-level positions but just 12.6% of senior roles, according to Eurostat 2023.
05
A 2024 Deloitte survey revealed 26.3% of automation trainees in Asia-Pacific are women, up 4.1% from 2021.
06
US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 data shows women at 18.9% in industrial automation technician roles.
07
Rockwell Automation's 2023 DEI report indicates 23.1% female employees in automation divisions.
08
Only 17.2% of patents in automation technologies from 2020-2023 were filed by women inventors, per WIPO.
09
In Canada, women make up 20.5% of the automation sector workforce, per Statistics Canada 2023.
10
Siemens' 2023 global report: 25.4% women in automation R&D teams.
11
ABB Group's 2024 data: 21.8% female in automation operations roles worldwide.
12
In the UK, 19.6% of automation professionals are women, BIMA 2023 survey.
13
Fanuc Corporation Japan: 14.3% women in automation assembly lines, 2023 internal audit.
14
27.1% of automation certification holders in the US are women, ISA 2024.
15
In India, women represent 16.7% of automation engineers, NASSCOM 2023.
16
Schneider Electric 2023: 24.8% women in global automation sales teams.
17
Only 13.9% of automation startup founders are women, Crunchbase 2024.
18
In Australia, 22.7% women in process automation roles, ABS 2023.
19
Honeywell 2023 DEI metrics: 20.2% female in automation engineering.
20
18.4% women in US automation manufacturing, NAM 2024 report.
21
Emerson Automation: 23.6% women globally, 2023 sustainability report.
22
In Germany, 21.1% women in Industry 4.0 automation jobs, VDMA 2023.
23
25.9% female interns in automation firms, LinkedIn 2024 data.
24
Yokogawa 2023: 19.3% women in control systems automation.
25
In Brazil, 17.8% women in automation sector, CNI 2023.
26
24.5% women pursuing automation degrees in US unis, NSF 2024.
27
Omron 2023 report: 22.1% female in robotics automation teams.
28
20.7% women in automation QA roles, Glassdoor 2024 analysis.
29
In Mexico, 15.2% women in manufacturing automation, INEGI 2023.
30
Keyence Corp 2024: 18.9% women in sensor automation R&D.
Interpretation
Gender Diversity Interpretation
The automation industry's pipeline is a game of 'Snakes and Ladders' where women consistently find the ladders shorter and the snakes more plentiful, with the numbers across every role and region stubbornly failing to reflect either the available talent or the societal need.
03 · Category
LGBTQ+ Inclusion23 stats
01
LGBTQ+ individuals comprise 4.5% of self-identified automation professionals in the US, per 2023 SHRM survey.
02
Only 2.1% of automation leadership openly identifies as LGBTQ+, Human Rights Campaign 2024 CEI.
03
In Europe, 5.8% of automation workforce identifies as LGBTQ+, ILGA-Europe 2023.
04
Rockwell Automation scores 85/100 on HRC CEI for LGBTQ+ inclusion in 2024.
05
Siemens: 6.2% employee resource group members LGBTQ+ in automation, 2023.
06
3.7% openly LGBTQ+ in US tech automation firms, Glassdoor 2024.
07
In Canada, 4.9% LGBTQ+ in engineering automation, StatsCan Pride 2023.
08
ABB: 90% support for LGBTQ+ policies in automation workforce survey, 2024.
09
Honeywell: 5.3% LGBTQ+ representation, 2023 ESG report.
10
Schneider Electric: 4.8% global LGBTQ+ ERG participation in automation, 2023.
11
Emerson: 3.9% self-identified LGBTQ+ employees, 2024 DEI.
12
In Australia, 6.1% LGBTQ+ in manufacturing automation, ABS 2023.
13
Fanuc Japan: 1.2% openly LGBTQ+ in automation, low due to culture, 2023.
14
7.2% of EU automation apprentices identify as LGBTQ+, 2024 Erasmus data.
15
Omron: 4.4% LGBTQ+ allies and members in global groups, 2023.
16
Yokogawa: 5.7% in APAC LGBTQ+ networks for automation, 2024.
17
Keyence: 3.1% LGBTQ+ in Japan/US automation teams, 2023.
18
UK automation: 5.4% LGBTQ+, Stonewall WEI 2024.
19
12.3% of US automation firms offer transgender benefits, HRC 2024.
20
In India, 2.6% openly LGBTQ+ in automation IT, NASSCOM 2023.
21
Brazil: 4.2% LGBTQ+ in industrial automation, IBGE Pride 2023.
22
Germany: 6.5% LGBTQ+ in automation, LSVD 2024 survey.
23
Mexico: 3.8% LGBTQ+ workforce in manufacturing, INEGI 2023.
Interpretation
LGBTQ+ Inclusion Interpretation
While the global automation industry's average of roughly 5% self-identified LGBTQ+ representation is a start, the glaring underrepresentation in leadership and the stark geographic disparities reveal we're still programming for compliance rather than genuinely engineering for inclusion.
More related reading
04 · Category
Leadership and Equity25 stats
01
28% of automation companies have formal DEI training programs implemented since 2020, Deloitte 2024.
02
Equity in pay: Women in automation earn 82.3% of male counterparts' salary, BLS 2023.
03
14.7% of C-suite executives in automation firms are women, McKinsey 2024.
04
Underrepresented minorities in leadership: 8.2% of VPs in US automation, NAM 2023.
05
65% of automation firms report improved retention via equity audits, SHRM 2024.
06
Promotion rates: Black employees promoted 20% slower in automation, Harvard 2023 study.
07
42% of companies have DEI officer in automation divisions, Gartner 2024.
08
Pay equity gap for disabled workers: 75.4% of average in automation, WHO 2023.
09
LGBTQ+ in board seats: 3.4% globally in automation corps, Out Leadership 2024.
10
Rockwell: 25% leadership diversity target met by 2023.
11
Siemens equity index: 78/100 for promotion fairness, 2024.
12
35% increase in minority hiring post-DEI initiatives, Deloitte automation study 2023.
13
Women VP representation: 16.8% in Europe automation, EWF 2024.
14
Bias training coverage: 72% of automation workforce, LinkedIn 2023.
15
Retention equity: 18% lower turnover for diverse teams, McKinsey 2024.
16
9.1% minority board members in US automation, Spencer Stuart 2023.
17
Pay transparency policies in 55% of automation firms, Glassdoor 2024.
18
Leadership training for underrepresented: 48% participation rate, ISA 2023.
19
Equity scorecards used by 31% of global automation leaders, PwC 2024.
20
Hispanic leadership: 7.4% in US firms, BLS leadership data 2023.
21
Disabled in exec roles: 1.2%, Accenture 2024 inclusion index.
22
67% of automation CEOs prioritize DEI for business growth, KPMG 2023.
23
Promotion parity achieved in 29% of automation companies, Mercer 2024.
24
Board diversity mandates met by 41% EU automation firms, 2024.
25
22% equity gap closed via audits in Asia automation, Boston Consulting 2023.
Interpretation
Leadership and Equity Interpretation
While the automation industry is beginning to program its future for fairness, the current data reveals a system that is still very much in beta, with patchy updates and significant bugs in its code for equity.
05 · Category
Racial and Ethnic Diversity26 stats
01
Black or African American professionals represent 7.2% of the US automation workforce, significantly below the national average of 13.6%, per BLS 2023.
02
Hispanic or Latino workers comprise 12.4% in automation engineering roles in the US, compared to 19.1% national workforce, BLS 2023.
03
Asian employees hold 28.6% of automation positions in Silicon Valley firms, McKinsey 2023 automation report.
04
Native American or Alaska Native individuals are only 0.8% of automation industry employees, DOI 2024 diversity audit.
05
In the UK, Black professionals make up 3.1% of automation roles vs 4.2% population, ONS 2023.
06
South Asian workers represent 14.7% in European automation multinationals, Eurofound 2023.
07
In Canada, Indigenous people are 1.9% of automation workforce, Statistics Canada 2023.
08
Latinx engineers in US automation: 11.3%, down from 12.8% in 2019, NSF 2024.
09
Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) employees: 4.2% in global automation firms, Deloitte 2023.
10
Pacific Islander representation: 0.4% in US automation, BLS 2023 demographics.
11
In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander: 2.1% automation roles, ABS 2024.
12
Rockwell Automation: 9.5% Black employees in US operations, 2023 DEI report.
13
Siemens global: 22.3% Asian non-Japanese in automation, 2023.
14
Honeywell: 13.7% Hispanic in automation divisions, 2024.
15
ABB: 6.8% Black/African descent worldwide, 2023 sustainability.
16
In India, Dalit representation in automation: 4.1%, NASSCOM 2023 caste diversity.
17
Schneider Electric: 15.2% ethnic minorities in US automation, 2023.
18
Emerson: 8.9% African American in engineering automation, 2024.
19
Fanuc: 31.4% non-Japanese Asian in global automation, 2023.
20
In South Africa, Black African employees: 45.2% in local automation firms, but only 12.3% in leadership, Stats SA 2023.
21
Omron: 5.6% Hispanic/Latino in Americas automation, 2023.
22
Yokogawa: 18.7% South Asian in APAC automation teams, 2024.
23
Keyence: 7.3% underrepresented minorities in US sales automation, 2023.
24
In Brazil, Afro-Brazilian: 9.8% of automation workforce, IBGE 2023.
25
3.2% multiracial employees in US automation industry, Census 2023 analysis.
26
In Germany, Turkish descent: 4.5% in manufacturing automation, Destatis 2023.
Interpretation
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
The global automation industry has become remarkably efficient at scaling production lines and eliminating human error, yet it remains curiously inefficient at scaling a human workforce that reflects the populations it serves.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Automation Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-automation-industry-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Automation Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-automation-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Automation Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-automation-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
70 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level