In 2023, women held only 13.5% of mechanical engineering roles, while engineering leadership positions were split even more unevenly with just 12% held by women or minorities combined. Pay, representation, and retention keep showing gaps, including women earning 93 cents on the male dollar in 2021 and only 52% of women staying in engineering after 10 years. If DEI programs are spreading, why do the outcomes still lag behind?
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, women represented only 16% of the engineering workforce in the United States, compared to 47% of the overall workforce, highlighting a persistent gender gap.
- Female engineers earned 93 cents for every dollar earned by male engineers in 2021, with the gap widening to 88 cents in tech-heavy engineering subfields.
- Only 21% of undergraduate engineering degrees were awarded to women in 2020, down from 22% in 2015 despite DEI efforts.
- Only 11% of LGBTQ+ individuals in engineering disclose orientation.
- 5% of engineers identify as LGBTQ+ per 2022 NSPE survey.
- Transgender engineers face 2x unemployment rate (8% vs 4%).
- Only 12% of engineering leadership positions are held by women or minorities combined in 2023 McKinsey report.
- Black executives in engineering firms: 2.1% per 2022 Deloitte.
- Women CEOs of engineering companies: 8% in 2023 Fortune data.
- Black engineers make up 4.5% of the U.S. engineering workforce in 2022 BLS data.
- Hispanic/Latino engineers: 9% of workforce, but 19% of population.
- Asian Americans are 20% of engineers despite 6% population share.
- Engineering retention rate for women: 52% after 10 years.
- Pay equity gap: Minorities earn 85 cents per white male dollar in engineering.
- 65% of firms have DEI training, but only 40% track inclusion metrics.
Engineering diversity remains low and pay unequal, showing DEI progress is uneven and needs stronger accountability.
Related reading
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- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The High Tech Industry Statistics
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Statistics
01 · Category
Gender Diversity20 stats
01
In 2022, women represented only 16% of the engineering workforce in the United States, compared to 47% of the overall workforce, highlighting a persistent gender gap.
02
Female engineers earned 93 cents for every dollar earned by male engineers in 2021, with the gap widening to 88 cents in tech-heavy engineering subfields.
03
Only 21% of undergraduate engineering degrees were awarded to women in 2020, down from 22% in 2015 despite DEI efforts.
04
In mechanical engineering, women comprised just 13.5% of professionals in 2023, per ASME data.
05
Retention rates for female engineers drop to 45% after five years, versus 65% for men, due to workplace culture issues.
06
Women hold only 10% of senior engineering roles at Fortune 500 companies in 2022.
07
In electrical engineering, female participation was 12% in 2021 IEEE surveys.
08
28% of women in engineering report experiencing gender-based discrimination in promotions.
09
Engineering programs saw 18% female enrollment in 2023 ABET data.
10
Women engineers face 2x higher burnout rates (52% vs 26%) per 2022 SHRM study.
11
Only 14% of patents in engineering fields list women as inventors in 2021 USPTO data.
12
Female civil engineers: 17% of workforce in 2022 BLS stats.
13
35% of women engineers consider leaving due to lack of flexibility, 2023 Deloitte survey.
14
In chemical engineering, women are 22% of bachelor's graduates but 15% of PhDs.
15
Aerospace engineering: women 11% per 2022 AIAA report.
16
41% of female engineers report microaggressions weekly, per 2021 study.
17
Women in software engineering: 25% at entry-level, drops to 15% mid-career.
18
Biomedical engineering sees highest female rep at 38% in 2023.
19
19% growth in female engineering enrollment since 2010, but still lags.
20
Only 9% of engineering firm owners are women, 2022 NSPE.
Interpretation
Gender Diversity Interpretation
Across the engineering industry, women remain substantially underrepresented and are losing ground over time with just 16% of the US engineering workforce in 2022 and only 10% of senior roles at Fortune 500 companies, while retention falls to 45% after five years compared with 65% for men.
02 · Category
Lgbtq+ And Other Underrepresented Groups20 stats
01
Only 11% of LGBTQ+ individuals in engineering disclose orientation.
02
5% of engineers identify as LGBTQ+ per 2022 NSPE survey.
03
Transgender engineers face 2x unemployment rate (8% vs 4%).
04
23% of LGBTQ+ engineers experienced workplace harassment.
05
Non-binary representation: 1.5% in engineering firms with DEI tracking.
06
Gay men in engineering: 4% self-identify, higher in software.
07
15% of DEI programs include LGBTQ+ specific training in engineering.
08
Lesbians report 30% lower promotion rates in male-dominated fields.
09
7% increase in out LGBTQ+ engineers since 2018.
10
Bisexual engineers: 2% disclosed, face invisibility bias.
11
Engineering firms with LGBTQ+ ERGs: 42% in 2023.
12
28% of LGBTQ+ quit engineering due to discrimination.
13
Asexual spectrum in STEM: 1% identified in surveys.
14
Pride ally training reaches 35% of engineering staff.
15
Queer engineers in leadership: 2.5% at VP level.
16
18% of Gen Z engineers identify as LGBTQ+.
17
Disabled engineers: 4% of workforce vs 13% population.
18
Engineers with disabilities report 45% accessibility barriers.
19
Veterans underrepresented at 3% in engineering vs 7% workforce.
20
Women of color with disabilities: 0.5% in senior roles.
Interpretation
Lgbtq+ And Other Underrepresented Groups Interpretation
Within the “LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented groups” frame, just 5% of engineers identify as LGBTQ+ yet 23% of LGBTQ+ engineers report workplace harassment and transgender engineers face double the unemployment rate at 8% versus 4%.
03 · Category
Leadership And Representation16 stats
01
Only 12% of engineering leadership positions are held by women or minorities combined in 2023 McKinsey report.
02
Black executives in engineering firms: 2.1% per 2022 Deloitte.
03
Women CEOs of engineering companies: 8% in 2023 Fortune data.
04
VP-level diversity: 15% women, 10% minorities in tech engineering.
05
5% of board seats in engineering societies held by URMs.
06
Female CTOs in engineering-heavy firms: 7%, up from 4% in 2018.
07
Minority partners in engineering consultancies: 11%.
08
C-suite gender parity in engineering: projected 2040 at current rates.
09
22% of engineering deans are women in 2023.
10
Hispanic leaders: 4% in engineering management.
11
Intersectional leadership (women of color): 3% of directors.
12
18% increase in diverse leadership since 2020 DEI mandates.
13
Only 9% of engineering fellowship recipients are minorities.
14
Women in patent leadership: 12% first-named inventors promoted.
15
25% of engineering VCs fund diverse-led startups.
16
Retention of diverse leaders: 70% vs 85% non-diverse.
Interpretation
Leadership And Representation Interpretation
Across leadership and representation in engineering, women and minorities remain strikingly underrepresented with only 12% in leadership roles in 2023 and just 8% of engineering CEOs, even as female CTOs rise to 7% from 4% since 2018.
More related reading
04 · Category
Racial And Ethnic Diversity18 stats
01
Black engineers make up 4.5% of the U.S. engineering workforce in 2022 BLS data.
02
Hispanic/Latino engineers: 9% of workforce, but 19% of population.
03
Asian Americans are 20% of engineers despite 6% population share.
04
Native American engineers: under 1% (0.6%) per 2023 ASEE.
05
Black women: 1.2% of engineering professionals, 2022 data.
06
7% of engineering bachelor's degrees to Hispanics in 2021.
07
Underrepresented minorities (URM) in grad programs: 12% in engineering.
08
Black retention in engineering drops 40% from freshman to graduation.
09
Asian engineers overrepresented in tech: 40% at Silicon Valley firms.
10
Latino engineers earn 91 cents per white dollar, 2022 AAAS.
11
3% of tenured engineering faculty are Black, 2023.
12
Hispanic PhD engineers: 6.5%, up from 4% in 2010.
13
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders: 0.3% in engineering.
14
Multi-racial engineers: 2.8% growth to 5% in 2022.
15
Black-owned engineering firms: 2% of total, SBA data.
16
55% of URM engineers report bias in hiring.
17
Asian women engineers: 8% of field, but 3% leadership.
18
Hispanic enrollment in engineering up 25% since 2015.
Interpretation
Racial And Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
For racial and ethnic diversity in engineering, the data show a stark mismatch between representation and the broader population, with Hispanic/Latino engineers at only 9% of the workforce despite being 19% of the population while Asian Americans make up 20% of engineers compared with a 6% population share.
05 · Category
Retention, Equity, And Inclusion Practices16 stats
01
Engineering retention rate for women: 52% after 10 years.
02
Pay equity gap: Minorities earn 85 cents per white male dollar in engineering.
03
65% of firms have DEI training, but only 40% track inclusion metrics.
04
Mentorship programs boost minority retention by 25%.
05
Equity audits in 30% of engineering firms reveal promotion biases.
06
Inclusion scores: 3.8/5 for diverse employees vs 4.2 for others.
07
45% attrition among URMs due to lack of belonging.
08
DEI budgets in engineering up 20% to $1.2M average firm.
09
Flexible work retains 30% more women engineers.
10
Bias training reduces turnover by 15% per randomized study.
11
Equity in bonuses: 92% parity after DEI interventions.
12
70% of engineers value DEI for career satisfaction.
13
Inclusive cultures correlate with 21% higher innovation.
14
Retention of disabled engineers improves 18% with accommodations.
15
55% of diverse hires stay longer than 5 years post-DEI.
16
Pay transparency laws boost equity by 10% in engineering.
Interpretation
Retention, Equity, And Inclusion Practices Interpretation
Despite 65% of engineering firms offering DEI training, retention and equity outcomes remain uneven, with women retaining at only 52% after 10 years, minorities earning 85 cents to the white male dollar, and inclusion scores lagging 3.8 out of 5 for diverse employees versus 4.2 for others.
report visual · Key figures
A persistent pipeline and workforce gap for women in engineering
Across multiple stages—education, workforce representation, and senior roles—women remain underrepresented in engineering.
21%
Only 21% of undergraduate engineering degrees were awarded to women in 2020, down from 22% in 2015 despite DEI efforts.
16%
In 2022, women represented only 16% of the engineering workforce in the United States, compared to 47% of the overall wo
10%
Women hold only 10% of senior engineering roles at Fortune 500 companies in 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
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Engineering Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-engineering-industry-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Engineering Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-engineering-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Engineering Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-engineering-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
49 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level