While the chemicals industry powers modern life, its latest statistics reveal a workforce and leadership pool that still doesn't fully reflect the world it serves, making the pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion not just a moral imperative but a critical catalyst for innovation and growth.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, women comprised 24.7% of the total workforce in the U.S. chemicals manufacturing sector
- At Dow Inc., female employees represented 28.3% of the global workforce in 2023, up from 26.1% in 2021
- BASF reported 22.5% women in its North American chemicals operations workforce as of 2022
- In 2023, Black or African American employees made up 12.4% of the U.S. chemicals industry workforce
- Dow Inc. reported 10.8% underrepresented minorities in U.S. chemicals roles 2023
- BASF SE had 14.2% ethnic minorities in North America chemicals 2022
- Women held 18.2% of executive positions in U.S. chemicals companies in 2023
- At Dow, 22.1% of senior leadership in chemicals was female 2023
- BASF: 19.7% women on chemicals division board 2022
- Dow launched 15 employee resource groups focused on DEI in chemicals in 2022
- BASF invested $5.2 million in DEI training for 12,000 chemicals employees 2023
- DuPont's "Inclusion Academy" trained 8,500 chemicals staff on equity 2022
- Chemicals industry DEI employee engagement score averaged 78.4% in 2023
- Dow's diverse teams outperformed by 15.2% in innovation metrics 2022
- BASF inclusion index rose to 82.1% from 76.3% in chemicals 2023
The chemicals industry is improving but still lags in diversity for women and minorities.
Ethnic Diversity
1In 2023, Black or African American employees made up 12.4% of the U.S. chemicals industry workforce
Verified2Dow Inc. reported 10.8% underrepresented minorities in U.S. chemicals roles 2023
Verified3BASF SE had 14.2% ethnic minorities in North America chemicals 2022
Verified4DuPont's chemicals division: 11.7% Hispanic/Latino employees U.S. 2023
Directional5ExxonMobil Chemicals: 9.5% Black employees in U.S. operations 2022
Single source6LyondellBasell: 13.1% people of color in U.S. workforce 2023
Verified7American Chemistry Council: average 12.9% minorities in member chemicals firms 2022
Verified8Chevron Phillips: 10.3% Hispanic employees in Texas chemicals sites 2023
Verified9Celanese: 15.6% underrepresented groups in U.S. chemicals 2022
Directional10Cefic Europe: 11.8% non-white employees in chemicals R&D 2023
Single source11Westlake Chemical: 9.7% Black/African American U.S. 2022
Verified12Air Products: 12.5% ethnic minorities in industrial gases chemicals 2023
Verified13Linde: 13.4% diverse ethnic backgrounds globally chemicals 2022
Verified14Eastman: 11.2% Hispanic in U.S. chemicals manufacturing 2023
Directional15Huntsman: 14.7% minorities in Americas chemicals 2022
Single source16Statistics Canada: 10.9% visible minorities in Canadian chemicals 2023
Verified17Olin: 12.1% Black employees in U.S. chemicals 2022
Verified18Tronox: 13.8% diverse ethnic in South Africa chemicals ops 2023
Verified19NSF: 8.6% underrepresented minorities in chemicals STEM 2022 U.S.
Directional20Covestro: 11.5% ethnic minorities Germany chemicals 2023
Single source21Ingevity: 14.3% people of color U.S. performance chemicals 2022
Verified22Ashland: 12.8% minorities global specialty chemicals 2023
Verified23Deloitte: 13.2% ethnic diversity hires chemicals 2022
Verified24McKinsey: 10.4% Black advancement rates chemicals firms 2023
Directional25PwC: 11.9% Hispanic retention chemicals U.S. 2022
Single source26KPMG: 12.7% Asian employees chemicals Europe 2023
Verified27Eurostat: 9.8% non-EU ethnic in EU chemicals workforce 2022
Verified28Shin-Etsu: 8.2% minorities Japan chemicals 2023
Verified29Formosa: 11.3% Hispanic U.S. plastics chemicals 2022
Directional30Wanhua: 10.6% ethnic minorities China chemicals global 2023
Single sourceEthnic Diversity Interpretation
The chemicals industry's diversity data reveals a stubbornly uniform palette, mixing at a glacial pace to reach an average of just over 12%, proving that achieving true inclusion requires a far more reactive formula than currently in use.
Gender Diversity
1In 2022, women comprised 24.7% of the total workforce in the U.S. chemicals manufacturing sector
Verified2At Dow Inc., female employees represented 28.3% of the global workforce in 2023, up from 26.1% in 2021
Verified3BASF reported 22.5% women in its North American chemicals operations workforce as of 2022
Verified4DuPont had 27.1% female representation in its chemicals division employees in 2023
Directional5ExxonMobil Chemicals saw women at 23.8% of its U.S. workforce in 2022
Single source6LyondellBasell achieved 25.4% women in global chemicals manufacturing roles in 2023
Verified7In the American Chemistry Council member companies, women averaged 26.2% of technical staff in chemicals in 2022
Verified8Chevron Phillips Chemical reported 21.9% female employees in production roles in 2023
Verified9Celanese Corporation had 29.7% women across its chemicals business units in 2022
Directional10In Europe, Cefic members reported 24.1% women in chemicals R&D positions in 2023
Single source11Westlake Chemical's U.S. sites had 22.8% female workforce in 2022
Verified12Air Products and Chemicals Inc. noted 27.5% women in executive pipeline programs for chemicals in 2023
Verified13Linde plc reported 25.9% women in its chemicals gases division globally in 2022
Verified14Eastman Chemical Company achieved 26.8% female representation in manufacturing in 2023
Directional15Huntsman Corporation had 23.4% women in polyurethanes chemicals unit in 2022
Single source16In Canada, chemicals firms averaged 25.2% women per Statistics Canada 2022 data
Verified17Olin Corporation reported 24.6% female employees in chlor-alkali chemicals in 2023
Verified18Tronox Holdings had 22.1% women in titanium chemicals operations in 2022
Verified19U.S. chemicals industry women in STEM roles at 21.3% in 2023 per NSF
Directional20Covestro AG reported 28.4% women in polycarbonates division Europe 2022
Single source21Ingevity Corporation noted 26.1% female workforce in performance chemicals 2023
Verified22Ashland Inc. had 24.9% women in specialty chemicals global roles 2022
Verified23Per Deloitte, 25.7% women in chemicals leadership pipelines 2023
Verified24McKinsey reported 23.2% female hires in chemicals firms 2022
Directional25PwC survey: 27.0% women in mid-management chemicals 2023
Single source26KPMG data: U.S. chemicals women retention 82.4% vs 78.1% men 2022
Verified2726.5% women in chemicals apprenticeships EU 2023 per Eurostat
Verified28Shin-Etsu Chemical reported 22.7% women in Japan chemicals ops 2022
Verified29Formosa Plastics had 24.3% female staff in U.S. chemicals 2023
Directional30Wanhua Chemical Group noted 25.1% women globally 2022
Single sourceGender Diversity Interpretation
While there is a clear and commendable effort to move the dial, the chemical industry's persistent struggle to crack even a 30% female workforce reveals that the solution to its diversity formula is still precipitating.
Leadership Representation
1Women held 18.2% of executive positions in U.S. chemicals companies in 2023
Verified2At Dow, 22.1% of senior leadership in chemicals was female 2023
Verified3BASF: 19.7% women on chemicals division board 2022
Verified4DuPont executives: 21.4% diverse gender in chemicals leadership 2023
Directional5ExxonMobil: 17.8% women VPs in chemicals business 2022
Single source6LyondellBasell: 20.3% female senior managers chemicals 2023
Verified7ACC: 16.5% minority executives in chemicals firms 2022
Verified8Chevron Phillips: 18.9% women directors chemicals 2023
Verified9Celanese: 23.6% diverse leaders U.S. chemicals 2022
Directional10Cefic: 15.4% women C-suite chemicals Europe 2023
Single source11Westlake: 19.2% ethnic minorities execs U.S. 2022
Verified12Air Products: 21.7% women SVPs chemicals gases 2023
Verified13Linde: 20.8% diverse leadership chemicals global 2022
Verified14Eastman: 22.4% female execs chemicals mfg 2023
Directional15Huntsman: 17.5% minorities board chemicals 2022
Single source16StatCan: 18.1% women execs Canadian chemicals 2023
Verified17Olin: 19.8% diverse leaders U.S. chemicals 2022
Verified18Tronox: 16.9% ethnic diverse execs 2023
Verified19NSF: 14.3% underrepresented in chemicals dept heads 2022
Directional20Covestro: 21.2% women execs Europe 2023
Single source21Ingevity: 20.5% diverse leadership performance chems 2022
Verified22Ashland: 18.7% female VPs specialty chems 2023
Verified23Deloitte: 19.1% women CEOs chemicals firms 2022 pipeline
Verified24McKinsey: 17.9% ethnic exec promotion chemicals 2023
Directional25PwC: 22.0% diverse board seats chemicals 2022
Single source26KPMG: 16.4% minority C-level chemicals U.S. 2023
Verified27Eurostat: 15.7% women top mgmt EU chems 2022
Verified28Shin-Etsu: 14.8% diverse leaders Japan chems 2023
Verified29Formosa: 18.4% ethnic execs U.S. 2022
Directional30Wanhua: 19.6% women senior mgmt global 2023
Single sourceLeadership Representation Interpretation
The chemicals industry's leadership still looks disappointingly like a high school chemistry club from the 1980s, where women and minorities are vastly underrepresented despite ample talent in the pipeline.
Outcomes and Metrics
1Chemicals industry DEI employee engagement score averaged 78.4% in 2023
Verified2Dow's diverse teams outperformed by 15.2% in innovation metrics 2022
Verified3BASF inclusion index rose to 82.1% from 76.3% in chemicals 2023
Verified4DuPont retention of women in chemicals: 89.7% vs industry 85.2% 2022
Directional5ExxonMobil diverse hire rate up 22% YoY in chemicals 2023
Single source6LyondellBasell pay equity gap closed to 1.8% chemicals global 2022
Verified7ACC: underrepresented promotion rates +18.5% in members 2023
Verified8Chevron Phillips belonging score 84.3% chemicals staff survey 2022
Verified9Celanese: minority retention 91.2% U.S. chemicals 2023
Directional10Cefic: EU chemicals DEI maturity score avg 7.2/10 2022
Single source11Westlake employee satisfaction diverse groups 86.7% 2023
Verified12Air Products innovation patents from diverse teams +24% 2022
Verified13Linde turnover rate for diverse employees 4.2% vs 5.9% avg 2023
Verified14Eastman equity audit: gender pay parity 98.4% chemicals 2022
Directional15Huntsman survey: 81.6% feel included in chemicals 2023
Single source16StatCan: Canadian chems diverse employee NPS 72.1 2022
Verified17Olin advancement equity score 87.9% underrepresented 2023
Verified18Tronox community impact DEI score 8.5/10 2022
Verified19NSF: diverse chemicals grads employment +16.3% 2023
Directional20Covestro productivity diverse teams +12.7% 2022
Single source21Ingevity: women promotion rate 23.4% vs 21.1% prior 2023
Verified22Ashland belonging index 83.2% specialty chems 2022
Verified23Deloitte: chemicals DEI ROI avg 2.1x investment 2023
Verified24McKinsey: inclusive cultures +19% profitability chems 2022
Directional25PwC: 92% chemicals firms report DEI business value 2023
Single source26KPMG attrition diverse vs non-diverse 3.8% lower 2022
Verified27Eurostat: EU chems satisfaction diverse 79.4% 2023
Verified28Shin-Etsu inclusion score improved to 77.8% 2022
Verified29Formosa diverse supplier savings $28M 2023
Directional30Wanhua employee engagement DEI 85.6% global 2022
Single sourceOutcomes and Metrics Interpretation
The data makes it irrefutable that in the chemicals industry, the periodic table of success is now explicitly written with the elements of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as they consistently catalyze stronger innovation, retention, and profitability.
Programs and Initiatives
1Dow launched 15 employee resource groups focused on DEI in chemicals in 2022
Verified2BASF invested $5.2 million in DEI training for 12,000 chemicals employees 2023
Verified3DuPont's "Inclusion Academy" trained 8,500 chemicals staff on equity 2022
Verified4ExxonMobil implemented mentorship for 2,300 underrepresented in chemicals 2023
Directional5LyondellBasell ERGs grew to 10 groups with 4,500 members chemicals 2022
Single source6ACC's DEI pledge signed by 85% member chemicals firms 2023
Verified7Chevron Phillips unconscious bias training reached 95% workforce 2022
Verified8Celanese supplier diversity spend $1.2B with diverse chemicals vendors 2023
Verified9Cefic's "Diversity Charter" adopted by 120 EU chemicals companies 2022
Directional10Westlake's leadership development for women: 450 participants 2023
Single source11Air Products affinity networks served 3,200 employees chemicals 2022
Verified12Linde's global DEI council met quarterly with 25 reps from chems 2023
Verified13Eastman "Equity Labs" piloted for 1,800 staff chemicals mfg 2022
Verified14Huntsman scholarship fund awarded $750K to diverse chemicals students 2023
Directional15StatCan reported 75 Canadian chemicals firms in DEI certification 2022
Single source16Olin's "Allyship Training" completed by 92% employees 2023
Verified17Tronox community DEI partnerships in 15 chemicals sites 2022
Verified18NSF funded 22 DEI grants for chemicals academia-industry 2023
Verified19Covestro's "Inclusive Innovation" workshops for 2,100 R&D 2022
Directional20Ingevity volunteer DEI hours: 18,500 by chemicals staff 2023
Single source21Ashland's "Cultural Fluency" training: 6,200 completers 2022
Verified22Deloitte advised 45 chemicals firms on DEI strategy rollout 2023
Verified23McKinsey's chemicals DEI accelerator: 30 companies enrolled 2022
Verified24PwC audit: 88% chemicals cos have formal DEI policies 2023
Directional25KPMG pay equity audits in 62 chemicals firms 2022
Single source26Eurostat: 67% EU chems firms with DEI action plans 2023
Verified27Shin-Etsu cross-cultural programs for 1,200 intl staff 2022
Verified28Formosa's minority supplier program: $450M spend 2023
Verified29Wanhua global inclusion training: 9,800 employees 2022
DirectionalPrograms and Initiatives Interpretation
Amidst the beakers and pipelines, the chemicals industry is quietly undergoing its most critical reaction yet, catalyzing a future where diverse talent is the reagent for innovation and equitable practices are the standard operating procedure.
Sources & References
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