Minority employees make up an average of 12.9 percent of the workforce at U.S. chemicals companies. Women hold 24.7 percent of positions in chemicals manufacturing. Representation drops further in senior leadership at major firms.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Black or African American employees made up 12.4% of the U.S. chemicals industry workforce
- In 2022, women comprised 24.7% of the total workforce in the U.S. chemicals manufacturing sector
- Women held 18.2% of executive positions in U.S. chemicals companies in 2023
- Chemicals industry DEI employee engagement score averaged 78.4% in 2023
- Dow launched 15 employee resource groups focused on DEI in chemicals in 2022
Diversity in chemicals remains low, but targeted hiring and inclusion efforts can accelerate meaningful change.
Related reading
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- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiverse Workplace Statistics
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- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Supply Chain Industry Statistics
01 · Category
Ethnic Diversity30 stats
01
In 2023, Black or African American employees made up 12.4% of the U.S. chemicals industry workforce
02
Dow Inc. reported 10.8% underrepresented minorities in U.S. chemicals roles 2023
03
BASF SE had 14.2% ethnic minorities in North America chemicals 2022
04
DuPont's chemicals division: 11.7% Hispanic/Latino employees U.S. 2023
05
ExxonMobil Chemicals: 9.5% Black employees in U.S. operations 2022
06
LyondellBasell: 13.1% people of color in U.S. workforce 2023
07
American Chemistry Council: average 12.9% minorities in member chemicals firms 2022
08
Chevron Phillips: 10.3% Hispanic employees in Texas chemicals sites 2023
09
Celanese: 15.6% underrepresented groups in U.S. chemicals 2022
10
Cefic Europe: 11.8% non-white employees in chemicals R&D 2023
11
Westlake Chemical: 9.7% Black/African American U.S. 2022
12
Air Products: 12.5% ethnic minorities in industrial gases chemicals 2023
13
Linde: 13.4% diverse ethnic backgrounds globally chemicals 2022
14
Eastman: 11.2% Hispanic in U.S. chemicals manufacturing 2023
15
Huntsman: 14.7% minorities in Americas chemicals 2022
16
Statistics Canada: 10.9% visible minorities in Canadian chemicals 2023
17
Olin: 12.1% Black employees in U.S. chemicals 2022
18
Tronox: 13.8% diverse ethnic in South Africa chemicals ops 2023
19
NSF: 8.6% underrepresented minorities in chemicals STEM 2022 U.S.
20
Covestro: 11.5% ethnic minorities Germany chemicals 2023
21
Ingevity: 14.3% people of color U.S. performance chemicals 2022
22
Ashland: 12.8% minorities global specialty chemicals 2023
23
Deloitte: 13.2% ethnic diversity hires chemicals 2022
24
McKinsey: 10.4% Black advancement rates chemicals firms 2023
25
PwC: 11.9% Hispanic retention chemicals U.S. 2022
26
KPMG: 12.7% Asian employees chemicals Europe 2023
27
Eurostat: 9.8% non-EU ethnic in EU chemicals workforce 2022
28
Shin-Etsu: 8.2% minorities Japan chemicals 2023
29
Formosa: 11.3% Hispanic U.S. plastics chemicals 2022
30
Wanhua: 10.6% ethnic minorities China chemicals global 2023
Interpretation
Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
Across the U.S. chemicals industry, ethnic diversity is still uneven, with Black representation ranging from 9.5% to 12.4% and many companies reporting mid to high teens figures for other ethnic groups such as 11.7% Hispanic or Latino at DuPont and 13.1% people of color at LyondellBasell.
02 · Category
Gender Diversity30 stats
01
In 2022, women comprised 24.7% of the total workforce in the U.S. chemicals manufacturing sector
02
At Dow Inc., female employees represented 28.3% of the global workforce in 2023, up from 26.1% in 2021
03
BASF reported 22.5% women in its North American chemicals operations workforce as of 2022
04
DuPont had 27.1% female representation in its chemicals division employees in 2023
05
ExxonMobil Chemicals saw women at 23.8% of its U.S. workforce in 2022
06
LyondellBasell achieved 25.4% women in global chemicals manufacturing roles in 2023
07
In the American Chemistry Council member companies, women averaged 26.2% of technical staff in chemicals in 2022
08
Chevron Phillips Chemical reported 21.9% female employees in production roles in 2023
09
Celanese Corporation had 29.7% women across its chemicals business units in 2022
10
In Europe, Cefic members reported 24.1% women in chemicals R&D positions in 2023
11
Westlake Chemical's U.S. sites had 22.8% female workforce in 2022
12
Air Products and Chemicals Inc. noted 27.5% women in executive pipeline programs for chemicals in 2023
13
Linde plc reported 25.9% women in its chemicals gases division globally in 2022
14
Eastman Chemical Company achieved 26.8% female representation in manufacturing in 2023
15
Huntsman Corporation had 23.4% women in polyurethanes chemicals unit in 2022
16
In Canada, chemicals firms averaged 25.2% women per Statistics Canada 2022 data
17
Olin Corporation reported 24.6% female employees in chlor-alkali chemicals in 2023
18
Tronox Holdings had 22.1% women in titanium chemicals operations in 2022
19
U.S. chemicals industry women in STEM roles at 21.3% in 2023 per NSF
20
Covestro AG reported 28.4% women in polycarbonates division Europe 2022
21
Ingevity Corporation noted 26.1% female workforce in performance chemicals 2023
22
Ashland Inc. had 24.9% women in specialty chemicals global roles 2022
23
Per Deloitte, 25.7% women in chemicals leadership pipelines 2023
24
McKinsey reported 23.2% female hires in chemicals firms 2022
25
PwC survey: 27.0% women in mid-management chemicals 2023
26
KPMG data: U.S. chemicals women retention 82.4% vs 78.1% men 2022
27
26.5% women in chemicals apprenticeships EU 2023 per Eurostat
28
Shin-Etsu Chemical reported 22.7% women in Japan chemicals ops 2022
29
Formosa Plastics had 24.3% female staff in U.S. chemicals 2023
30
Wanhua Chemical Group noted 25.1% women globally 2022
Interpretation
Gender Diversity Interpretation
Across the chemicals industry, women make up roughly a quarter of the workforce, ranging from 22.5% at BASF in North America to 28.3% at Dow globally, which signals steady but still limited gender representation within this DEI category.
03 · Category
Leadership Representation30 stats
01
Women held 18.2% of executive positions in U.S. chemicals companies in 2023
02
At Dow, 22.1% of senior leadership in chemicals was female 2023
03
BASF: 19.7% women on chemicals division board 2022
04
DuPont executives: 21.4% diverse gender in chemicals leadership 2023
05
ExxonMobil: 17.8% women VPs in chemicals business 2022
06
LyondellBasell: 20.3% female senior managers chemicals 2023
07
ACC: 16.5% minority executives in chemicals firms 2022
08
Chevron Phillips: 18.9% women directors chemicals 2023
09
Celanese: 23.6% diverse leaders U.S. chemicals 2022
10
Cefic: 15.4% women C-suite chemicals Europe 2023
11
Westlake: 19.2% ethnic minorities execs U.S. 2022
12
Air Products: 21.7% women SVPs chemicals gases 2023
13
Linde: 20.8% diverse leadership chemicals global 2022
14
Eastman: 22.4% female execs chemicals mfg 2023
15
Huntsman: 17.5% minorities board chemicals 2022
16
StatCan: 18.1% women execs Canadian chemicals 2023
17
Olin: 19.8% diverse leaders U.S. chemicals 2022
18
Tronox: 16.9% ethnic diverse execs 2023
19
NSF: 14.3% underrepresented in chemicals dept heads 2022
20
Covestro: 21.2% women execs Europe 2023
21
Ingevity: 20.5% diverse leadership performance chems 2022
22
Ashland: 18.7% female VPs specialty chems 2023
23
Deloitte: 19.1% women CEOs chemicals firms 2022 pipeline
24
McKinsey: 17.9% ethnic exec promotion chemicals 2023
25
PwC: 22.0% diverse board seats chemicals 2022
26
KPMG: 16.4% minority C-level chemicals U.S. 2023
27
Eurostat: 15.7% women top mgmt EU chems 2022
28
Shin-Etsu: 14.8% diverse leaders Japan chems 2023
29
Formosa: 18.4% ethnic execs U.S. 2022
30
Wanhua: 19.6% women senior mgmt global 2023
Interpretation
Leadership Representation Interpretation
Leadership representation in the chemicals industry remains uneven, with women holding between 17.8% and 22.1% in senior executive and leadership roles across major companies, indicating modest but consistent progress rather than rapid change.
More related reading
04 · Category
Outcomes And Metrics30 stats
01
Chemicals industry DEI employee engagement score averaged 78.4% in 2023
02
Dow's diverse teams outperformed by 15.2% in innovation metrics 2022
03
BASF inclusion index rose to 82.1% from 76.3% in chemicals 2023
04
DuPont retention of women in chemicals: 89.7% vs industry 85.2% 2022
05
ExxonMobil diverse hire rate up 22% YoY in chemicals 2023
06
LyondellBasell pay equity gap closed to 1.8% chemicals global 2022
07
ACC: underrepresented promotion rates +18.5% in members 2023
08
Chevron Phillips belonging score 84.3% chemicals staff survey 2022
09
Celanese: minority retention 91.2% U.S. chemicals 2023
10
Cefic: EU chemicals DEI maturity score avg 7.2/10 2022
11
Westlake employee satisfaction diverse groups 86.7% 2023
12
Air Products innovation patents from diverse teams +24% 2022
13
Linde turnover rate for diverse employees 4.2% vs 5.9% avg 2023
14
Eastman equity audit: gender pay parity 98.4% chemicals 2022
15
Huntsman survey: 81.6% feel included in chemicals 2023
16
StatCan: Canadian chems diverse employee NPS 72.1 2022
17
Olin advancement equity score 87.9% underrepresented 2023
18
Tronox community impact DEI score 8.5/10 2022
19
NSF: diverse chemicals grads employment +16.3% 2023
20
Covestro productivity diverse teams +12.7% 2022
21
Ingevity: women promotion rate 23.4% vs 21.1% prior 2023
22
Ashland belonging index 83.2% specialty chems 2022
23
Deloitte: chemicals DEI ROI avg 2.1x investment 2023
24
McKinsey: inclusive cultures +19% profitability chems 2022
25
PwC: 92% chemicals firms report DEI business value 2023
26
KPMG attrition diverse vs non-diverse 3.8% lower 2022
27
Eurostat: EU chems satisfaction diverse 79.4% 2023
28
Shin-Etsu inclusion score improved to 77.8% 2022
29
Formosa diverse supplier savings $28M 2023
30
Wanhua employee engagement DEI 85.6% global 2022
Interpretation
Outcomes And Metrics Interpretation
Under outcomes and metrics, the chemicals industry is showing measurable progress as inclusion and engagement rise with BASF’s inclusion index reaching 82.1% in 2023, retention of women at DuPont improving to 89.7% versus 85.2% industry-wide, and ExxonMobil’s diverse hire rate climbing 22% year over year in 2023.
05 · Category
Programs And Initiatives29 stats
01
Dow launched 15 employee resource groups focused on DEI in chemicals in 2022
02
BASF invested $5.2 million in DEI training for 12,000 chemicals employees 2023
03
DuPont's "Inclusion Academy" trained 8,500 chemicals staff on equity 2022
04
ExxonMobil implemented mentorship for 2,300 underrepresented in chemicals 2023
05
LyondellBasell ERGs grew to 10 groups with 4,500 members chemicals 2022
06
ACC's DEI pledge signed by 85% member chemicals firms 2023
07
Chevron Phillips unconscious bias training reached 95% workforce 2022
08
Celanese supplier diversity spend $1.2B with diverse chemicals vendors 2023
09
Cefic's "Diversity Charter" adopted by 120 EU chemicals companies 2022
10
Westlake's leadership development for women: 450 participants 2023
11
Air Products affinity networks served 3,200 employees chemicals 2022
12
Linde's global DEI council met quarterly with 25 reps from chems 2023
13
Eastman "Equity Labs" piloted for 1,800 staff chemicals mfg 2022
14
Huntsman scholarship fund awarded $750K to diverse chemicals students 2023
15
StatCan reported 75 Canadian chemicals firms in DEI certification 2022
16
Olin's "Allyship Training" completed by 92% employees 2023
17
Tronox community DEI partnerships in 15 chemicals sites 2022
18
NSF funded 22 DEI grants for chemicals academia-industry 2023
19
Covestro's "Inclusive Innovation" workshops for 2,100 R&D 2022
20
Ingevity volunteer DEI hours: 18,500 by chemicals staff 2023
21
Ashland's "Cultural Fluency" training: 6,200 completers 2022
22
Deloitte advised 45 chemicals firms on DEI strategy rollout 2023
23
McKinsey's chemicals DEI accelerator: 30 companies enrolled 2022
24
PwC audit: 88% chemicals cos have formal DEI policies 2023
25
KPMG pay equity audits in 62 chemicals firms 2022
26
Eurostat: 67% EU chems firms with DEI action plans 2023
27
Shin-Etsu cross-cultural programs for 1,200 intl staff 2022
28
Formosa's minority supplier program: $450M spend 2023
29
Wanhua global inclusion training: 9,800 employees 2022
Interpretation
Programs And Initiatives Interpretation
Across 2022 and 2023, chemical companies are scaling DEI programs with measurable reach, such as Dow expanding to 15 employee resource groups in 2022 and BASF investing $5.2 million in DEI training for 12,000 employees in 2023, showing that programs and initiatives are increasingly being treated as large, company wide commitments rather than small pilots.
report visual · Breakdown
Workforce & leadership diversity snapshots in the chemicals industry
Across the chemicals industry, diversity is visible at the workforce level but remains uneven at senior decision-making levels.
14.2%
BASF SE had 14.2% ethnic minorities in North America chemicals 2022
85.6%
Wanhua employee engagement DEI 85.6% global 2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Chemicals Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-chemicals-industry-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Chemicals Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-chemicals-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Chemicals Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-chemicals-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level