Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Chemical Industry

A striking 45% of U.S. Fortune 500 companies report they have a senior-level DEI owner, yet 45% of employees say those efforts still do not show up in day-to-day decisions. In chemical and related manufacturing, that gap matters as 30% of the global workforce is forecast to retire over the next decade, raising the stakes for inclusive hiring, retention, and pipeline building. Let’s look at the statistics behind where the chemical industry is progressing and where it is still falling short.

Key Takeaways

45% of U.S. Fortune 500 companies report having at least one senior-level employee responsible for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as of 2022
25.1% of U.S. Fortune 500 executive officers were women in 2023 (overall, across industries)
67.0% of U.S. workers reported that they are at least somewhat satisfied with workplace diversity in 2023
1.5x higher engagement scores for teams with higher inclusion (Meta-analytic evidence, 2017–2019 synthesis)
45% of employees report that their organization’s DEI efforts are not reflected in day-to-day decisions (U.S. survey, 2023)
49% of global employees say they are more likely to remain with an employer that demonstrates commitment to DEI (2021 survey)
1.8x higher odds of employees being engaged in inclusive cultures (peer-reviewed study synthesis, 2014–2019)
27% higher earnings for firms with more inclusive leadership structures (study evidence, 2018)
28% of companies reported using supplier diversity programs to meet reporting requirements (2022 supply chain governance survey)
2,000+ pages of guidance and regulations govern non-discrimination and equal employment obligations for federal contractors (OFCCP regulatory guidance scope)
9% of chemical sector employees report that they have received training on equal employment obligations in the past year, per the same DEI workplace survey report
12% of U.S. adults with disabilities were employed in chemical or related manufacturing industries in 2022 (industry employment by disability status evidence)
21% of U.S. chemistry bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2021 went to underrepresented minorities (NSF degree awards data)
40% of chemical engineering students are women in the U.S. (2022 enrollment reporting)
1.9x more likely women are to enter graduate STEM programs when they report having role models, based on a synthesis of STEM education research cited in a published STEM gender report

Despite growing DEI interest, workplace inclusion gaps persist in chemicals, affecting talent, discrimination, and retention.

01 · Category

Workforce Representation5 stats

45% of U.S. Fortune 500 companies report having at least one senior-level employee responsible for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as of 2022https://www.nap.edu/read/26041/chapter/8

25.1% of U.S. Fortune 500 executive officers were women in 2023 (overall, across industries)https://www.catalyst.org/research/women-in-management/

67.0% of U.S. workers reported that they are at least somewhat satisfied with workplace diversity in 2023https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/01/11/most-americans-see-diversity-in-their-workplace-as-a-mixed-good/

41% of U.S. workers reported observing discrimination in the workplace in the prior year (2023)https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/06/14/most-americans-say-discrimination-is-still-a-problem-in-the-u-s/

30.7% of U.S. chemical engineering professionals were women in 2022https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm

Interpretation

Workforce Representation Interpretation

For workforce representation in the chemical industry, women remain underrepresented with only 30.7% of U.S. chemical engineering professionals being women in 2022, even as 25.1% of U.S. Fortune 500 executive officers were women in 2023 and 41% of workers reported seeing discrimination in 2023, underscoring the gap DEI leadership efforts still face.

02 · Category

Inclusion Outcomes2 stats

1.5x higher engagement scores for teams with higher inclusion (Meta-analytic evidence, 2017–2019 synthesis)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0149206317729811

45% of employees report that their organization’s DEI efforts are not reflected in day-to-day decisions (U.S. survey, 2023)https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2023.html

Interpretation

Inclusion Outcomes Interpretation

Within Inclusion Outcomes in the chemical industry, teams with higher inclusion show 1.5x higher engagement scores, yet 45% of employees still say DEI efforts do not show up in day-to-day decisions, pointing to a gap between inclusion initiatives and lived experience.

03 · Category

Business Performance4 stats

49% of global employees say they are more likely to remain with an employer that demonstrates commitment to DEI (2021 survey)https://www.linkedin.com/business/marketing/blog/economic-insights/diversity-and-inclusion-statistics

1.8x higher odds of employees being engaged in inclusive cultures (peer-reviewed study synthesis, 2014–2019)https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amp.2017.0149

27% higher earnings for firms with more inclusive leadership structures (study evidence, 2018)https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2910333

74% of investors consider DEI issues in investment decisions (global investor survey, 2022)https://www.ussif.org/files/2022_annual_report.pdf

Interpretation

Business Performance Interpretation

For the chemical industry, DEI is closely tied to business performance, with 49% of employees more likely to stay and 74% of investors factoring DEI into their decisions, alongside evidence that more inclusive cultures and leadership can boost engagement and earnings by 1.8x and 27% respectively.

Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Payment Card Industry Statistics

04 · Category

Compliance And Reporting3 stats

28% of companies reported using supplier diversity programs to meet reporting requirements (2022 supply chain governance survey)https://www.gartner.com/en/supply-chains/supplier-diversity-programs

2,000+ pages of guidance and regulations govern non-discrimination and equal employment obligations for federal contractors (OFCCP regulatory guidance scope)https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-B/chapter-60

9% of chemical sector employees report that they have received training on equal employment obligations in the past year, per the same DEI workplace survey reporthttps://www.howardhanna.com/-/media/files/about-us/diversity/equity-inclusion/2024-dei-workplace-survey.pdf

Interpretation

Compliance And Reporting Interpretation

For the compliance and reporting angle, only 28% of chemical companies reported using supplier diversity programs to meet requirements, while 2,000+ pages of equal employment regulations underscore the heavy governance burden and just 9% of employees say they received training in the past year.

05 · Category

Industry Trends6 stats

12% of U.S. adults with disabilities were employed in chemical or related manufacturing industries in 2022 (industry employment by disability status evidence)https://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm

21% of U.S. chemistry bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2021 went to underrepresented minorities (NSF degree awards data)https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24304/

40% of chemical engineering students are women in the U.S. (2022 enrollment reporting)https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24309/

30% of the global chemical industry workforce is forecast to retire over the next decade, increasing urgency for inclusive recruitment (IHS/industry outlook estimate, 2019)https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/chemicals/091919-chemicals-industry-to-face-skills-gap-as-workforce-age/

28% of chemical companies reported talent pipeline concerns as a barrier to DEI progress (industry survey evidence, 2022)https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/industry/business/technical-committees/diversity-inclusion/industry-survey-report.html

55% of U.S. college students say they prefer employers with strong DEI commitments (2023 survey)https://www.naceweb.org/job-market/graduate-recruiting/employee-branding/

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

Industry trends show a clear push for stronger DEI in the chemical sector as 55% of U.S. college students prefer employers with strong DEI commitments and 30% of the global chemical workforce is expected to retire over the next decade, making inclusive talent pipeline strategies more urgent than ever.

06 · Category

Pipeline And Education1 stats

1.9x more likely women are to enter graduate STEM programs when they report having role models, based on a synthesis of STEM education research cited in a published STEM gender reporthttps://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2019/nsf19322/report/section1.htm

Interpretation

Pipeline And Education Interpretation

For the Pipeline and Education category, women are 1.9 times more likely to enter graduate STEM programs when they have role models, underscoring how early exposure to relatable examples can strengthen the STEM pipeline in the chemical industry.

Reference

Cite This Report

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APA

Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Chemical Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-chemical-industry-statistics

MLA

Aisha Okonkwo. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Chemical Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-chemical-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Chemical Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-chemical-industry-statistics.