While the defense industry is often perceived as monolithic, the story these numbers tell is one of quiet but meaningful evolution, revealing that from women constituting 22.7% of the workforce to Gen Z hires being 48.5% non-white, a new chapter of inclusive innovation is being written one hire, one promotion, and one program at a time.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women comprised 22.7% of the U.S. defense industry workforce, compared to 19.5% in 2018
- Black or African American employees made up 12.4% of Lockheed Martin’s total workforce in 2022
- Hispanic or Latino workers represented 14.1% of Raytheon Technologies' defense division employees as of 2023
- In executive roles, women held 19.2% at Lockheed Martin in 2023
- Black executives were 4.1% across top 10 defense firms in 2022
- Hispanic leaders comprised 6.3% at Northrop Grumman senior levels in 2023
- Pay gap for women in defense: narrowed to 82.4 cents on the dollar in 2023 from 78.1 in 2019
- Black employees' median pay 94.2% of white counterparts in 2022 at Boeing
- Hispanic pay equity ratio: 96.7% industry average 2023
- 85% of defense firms conducted mandatory DEI training in 2023
- Employee resource groups (ERGs) grew to 450 across top contractors by 2022
- 92.3% participation in unconscious bias training at RTX 2023
- Retention rate for diverse employees: 87.2% vs 84.5% overall in 2023
- Women voluntary turnover: dropped to 9.1% from 12.3% in 2022
- Black employee retention: 85.6% one-year rate 2023 Northrop
The U.S. defense industry is gradually becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Equity in Compensation and Advancement
1Pay gap for women in defense: narrowed to 82.4 cents on the dollar in 2023 from 78.1 in 2019
Verified2Black employees' median pay 94.2% of white counterparts in 2022 at Boeing
Verified3Hispanic pay equity ratio: 96.7% industry average 2023
Verified4Disability pay gap closed to 91.5% in top contractors 2022
Directional5Women executives earn 89.3% of male peers in defense 2023
Single source6Veteran pay premium: 105.2% over non-veterans adjusted 2022
Verified7LGBTQ+ pay equity: 97.8% in self-reported data 2023
Verified8Promotion rate parity for minorities: 92.4% of white rates in 2022
Verified9Gender bonus gap: reduced to 5.1% in 2023 RTX
Directional10Black promotion rates: 88.7% parity 2022 Northrop
Single source11Hispanic advancement index: 1.02 (over parity) in engineering 2023
Verified12Women in high-pay STEM: pay ratio 95.6% 2022
Verified13Disability promotion equity: 93.2% 2023 average
Verified14Asian pay exceeds average by 3.4% adjusted 2022
Directional15Native American pay gap: 90.1% 2023
Single source16Multiracial equity score: 96.5% 2022
Verified17Female veteran pay: 98.7% parity 2023
Verified18Intersectional gaps for Black women: narrowed to 87.4% 2022
Verified19Gen Z pay equity: 99.1% across demographics 2023
Directional20Executive pay audits show 94.8% equity for diverse leaders 2022
Single source21Bonus equity for women: 96.2% 2023 Lockheed
Verified22Minority stock grants parity: 95.3% 2022 Boeing
Verified23Disability-adjusted pay: 92.9% 2023 industry
Verified24LGBTQ+ bonus rates: 98.4% 2022
Directional25Promotion pipelines for Hispanics: 91.6% effective 2023
Single sourceEquity in Compensation and Advancement Interpretation
The defense industry’s DEI report card shows we’re no longer marching in place, but the parade to true equity still has a long way to go.
Inclusion Programs and Training
185% of defense firms conducted mandatory DEI training in 2023
Verified2Employee resource groups (ERGs) grew to 450 across top contractors by 2022
Verified392.3% participation in unconscious bias training at RTX 2023
Verified4Mentoring programs matched 15,000 diverse employees in 2022
Directional5Supplier diversity spend hit $12.4B industry-wide 2023
Single source678% of firms offer affinity networks for women 2022
Verified7Leadership development for minorities: 22,500 participants 2023
Verified8Inclusive culture surveys score 4.2/5 average 2022
Verified965% firms with DEI scorecards tied to exec pay 2023
Directional10Veteran integration programs reached 95% coverage 2022
Single source11Disability awareness training: 88.4% completion 2023
Verified12LGBTQ+ ally training modules deployed to 200k employees 2022
Verified13Hispanic heritage month events: 1,200 company-wide 2023
Verified14Black history programs engaged 75% workforce 2022
Directional15Women’s leadership summits: 50 events annually 2023
Single source16STEM outreach to diverse students: 100k reached 2022
Verified17ERG leadership training: 5,000 trained 2023
Verified18Psychological safety training adoption: 82% firms 2022
Verified19Supplier diversity training: mandatory for 90% procurement staff 2023
Directional20Cross-cultural competency courses: 12 hours average per employee 2022
Single sourceInclusion Programs and Training Interpretation
The defense industry's DEI metrics read like a surprisingly comprehensive battle plan, but one can't help but wonder if a culture genuinely scoring 4.2 out of 5 needs quite this many mandatory trainings to prove it's winning the peace within its own walls.
Leadership Positions
1In executive roles, women held 19.2% at Lockheed Martin in 2023
Verified2Black executives were 4.1% across top 10 defense firms in 2022
Verified3Hispanic leaders comprised 6.3% at Northrop Grumman senior levels in 2023
Verified4VP-level diverse representation (non-white/male) reached 28.4% at Boeing in 2022
Directional5Female C-suite officers: 15.7% industry average 2023
Single source6Asian American directors: 5.2% at General Dynamics board in 2022
Verified7Veteran CEOs in defense: 62.3% of top firms in 2023
Verified8Women board members averaged 27.1% across public defense contractors 2022
Verified9Black women in senior VP roles: 1.8% at RTX 2023
Directional10Disability representation in leadership: 2.4% industry-wide 2022
Single source11LGBTQ+ executives: 3.2% self-identified in 2023 surveys
Verified12Hispanic directors: 8.9% at L3Harris in 2022
Verified13Native leaders: 0.6% in C-suite 2023
Verified14Multiracial senior managers: 2.1% average 2022
Directional15Female program managers: 21.3% in major programs 2023
Single source16Black directors on boards: 7.4% top contractors 2022
Verified17Women in cybersecurity leadership: 18.6% 2023
Verified18Veteran women executives: 4.5% 2022
Verified19Asian VP diversity: 9.2% at Lockheed 2023
Directional20Intersectional leadership (women of color): 9.8% 2022 average
Single source21Gen X diverse leaders: 35.7% non-white/male 2023
Verified22Disability-inclusive boards: 3.1% chairs 2022
Verified23LGBTQ+ board seats: 4.2% 2023
Verified24Military spouse leaders: 1.9% senior roles 2022
DirectionalLeadership Positions Interpretation
The defense industry's current leadership statistics reveal a sobering truth: while they have mastered the art of building diverse arsenals for the world, they remain remarkably less proficient at building a similarly diverse arsenal of leaders within their own boardrooms and C-suites.
Retention and Turnover Rates
1Retention rate for diverse employees: 87.2% vs 84.5% overall in 2023
Verified2Women voluntary turnover: dropped to 9.1% from 12.3% in 2022
Verified3Black employee retention: 85.6% one-year rate 2023 Northrop
Verified4Hispanic turnover rate: 8.4% below average 2022 Boeing
Directional5Veteran retention post-hire: 92.7% at 3 years 2023
Single source6Disability employee stay rate: 89.3% 2022 average
Verified7LGBTQ+ retention improved to 86.4% 2023
Verified8Minority manager retention: 88.1% vs 85.2% 2022 GD
Verified9Female engineer retention: 84.7% three-year 2023
Directional10Asian retention rate: 90.2% highest demographic 2022
Single source11Native American turnover: reduced 15% YoY to 7.9% 2023
Verified12Multiracial retention: 87.9% 2022
Verified13ERG member retention boost: +12.3% 2023
Verified14Diverse new hire one-year retention: 91.5% 2022
Directional15Women of color retention: 82.4% improved 2023
Single source16Gen Z diverse retention: 89.6% 2022
Verified17Leadership pipeline retention for minorities: 86.8% 2023
Verified18Disability accommodations linked to 94.2% retention 2022
Verified19Military spouse retention programs: 88.7% success 2023
Directional20Overall DEI-driven retention uplift: 4.5% points 2022
Single sourceRetention and Turnover Rates Interpretation
While the data suggests the defense industry is finally learning that retaining diverse talent requires more than a brochure and a handshake, the real victory will be when these retention rates are so consistently high we no longer need to single them out for applause.
Workforce Demographics
1In 2023, women comprised 22.7% of the U.S. defense industry workforce, compared to 19.5% in 2018
Verified2Black or African American employees made up 12.4% of Lockheed Martin’s total workforce in 2022
Verified3Hispanic or Latino workers represented 14.1% of Raytheon Technologies' defense division employees as of 2023
Verified4Veterans accounted for 18.3% of Northrop Grumman’s workforce in 2022, exceeding the national average
Directional5Employees with disabilities comprised 4.2% of Boeing Defense, Space & Security workforce in 2023
Single source6Asian employees were 9.8% of General Dynamics' defense sector staff in 2022
Verified7In 2023, LGBTQ+ identified employees reached 5.1% across major defense contractors
Verified8Native American workers were 1.2% of BAE Systems Inc. workforce in 2022
Verified9Multiracial employees increased to 3.4% in L3Harris defense operations by 2023
Directional10Women in STEM roles in defense industry rose to 28.6% in 2023 from 25.2% in 2020
Single source11Black women held 2.8% of defense contractor positions in 2022
Verified12Hispanic men were 10.3% of the workforce at Huntington Ingalls Industries in 2023
Verified13Employees over 50 years old made up 32.1% of DoD contractor workforce in 2022
Verified14Pacific Islander representation was 0.7% industry-wide in 2023
Directional15In 2022, 6.5% of defense workers identified as non-binary or other gender identities
Single source16White employees decreased to 65.2% from 70.1% over five years in defense sector
Verified17Female veterans were 11.4% of veteran hires in defense in 2023
Verified18Entry-level diverse hires (non-white) reached 42.3% in 2022
Verified19Rural area recruits were 15.7% of new defense hires in 2023
Directional20STEM-educated minorities were 31.2% of workforce in 2022
Single source21Women in engineering roles at RTX hit 24.8% in 2023
Verified22Black STEM professionals were 8.9% across top contractors in 2022
Verified23Disability disclosure rates improved to 4.8% in 2023
Verified24LGBTQ+ veterans comprised 2.1% of hires in 2022
Directional25Hispanic women in management-track roles: 4.2% in 2023
Single source26Asian Pacific Islander employees: 7.6% in 2022 defense average
Verified27Gen Z diverse hires: 48.5% non-white in 2023
Verified28Intersectional Black LGBTQ+ workers: 0.9% in 2022
Verified29Military spouse employees: 3.3% industry-wide 2023
DirectionalWorkforce Demographics Interpretation
While these statistics show promising movement toward a more representative defense sector, the glacial pace and persistently low figures in key areas reveal an industry still struggling to dismantle its monolithic past and fully harness the nation's diverse talent.
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