GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Financial Industry Statistics

Financial industry’s DEI efforts improve innovation, performance, and employee retention.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Minority representation in executive roles within the financial sector is only about 8%

Statistic 2

Firms with high diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors

Statistic 3

Less than 20% of financial advisors are women or minorities

Statistic 4

Only 15% of board members in financial institutions are from underrepresented backgrounds

Statistic 5

Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in leadership roles by about 25% compared to their overall workforce representation

Statistic 6

First-generation professionals make up around 22% of the financial sector workforce

Statistic 7

65% of minority employees in finance report experiencing microaggressions frequently

Statistic 8

A survey shows that 55% of minority women in finance have considered leaving due to lack of advancement opportunities

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64% of financial industry professionals believe that more diverse teams lead to better decision making

Statistic 10

Financial institutions with higher ethnic and gender diversity are 25% more likely to be innovative

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Only 24% of senior managers in finance are women of color

Statistic 12

Underrepresented groups in finance report a 20% lower sense of belonging compared to their peers

Statistic 13

48% of finance professionals feel their workplace is not actively addressing racial inequality

Statistic 14

27% of recent finance graduates from diverse backgrounds secure internships compared to 40% of their peers from non-diverse backgrounds

Statistic 15

60% of underrepresented groups in finance say their company should prioritize inclusive hiring practices

Statistic 16

50% of finance employees from underrepresented groups believe their organization needs to improve mentorship programs

Statistic 17

Only 20% of financial industry marketing campaigns focus on diverse audiences

Statistic 18

Diversity training participation increased by 40% in the financial industry in 2023

Statistic 19

70% of underrepresented employees in finance feel more valued when their contributions are recognized publicly

Statistic 20

42% of employees of color in finance report experiencing discrimination or bias at work

Statistic 21

68% of finance firms believe that improved diversity is essential for accessing new markets

Statistic 22

54% of finance employers say that diversity and inclusion are central to their corporate identity

Statistic 23

Only 27% of financial services employees worldwide identify as women

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Only 18% of investment managers are women

Statistic 25

Representation of women in finance is projected to increase by only 3% over the next five years without targeted initiatives

Statistic 26

Gender pay gap in the financial services industry stands at approximately 12%

Statistic 27

Women of color in finance earn approximately 67 cents for every dollar earned by white men in similar roles

Statistic 28

52% of LGBTQ+ employees in finance feel their workplace is not LGBTQ+ friendly

Statistic 29

45% of LGBTQ+ finance professionals report hiding their identities at work

Statistic 30

Women hold approximately 23% of senior leadership roles in the financial industry

Statistic 31

Only 13% of finance industry leadership positions are held by individuals with disabilities

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55% of finance sector CEOs say DEI is a top strategic priority

Statistic 33

Only 22% of male finance executives recognize the importance of gender diversity initiatives

Statistic 34

Companies with diverse leadership are 20% more likely to develop innovative financial products

Statistic 35

61% of employees in finance say inclusion is key to their retention

Statistic 36

78% of employees in finance say their companies do not have sufficient diversity initiatives

Statistic 37

40% of financial firms have implemented unconscious bias training

Statistic 38

32% of professionals in financial firms believe their workplace is truly inclusive

Statistic 39

Only 10% of financial firms have a dedicated DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) executive or team

Statistic 40

Investment in DEI initiatives in the financial industry increased by 28% in 2022

Statistic 41

70% of financial organizations report that diversity improves client relations

Statistic 42

58% of financial firms have set diversity goals for 2025

Statistic 43

30% of finance employees believe that their organization’s DEI efforts are not authentic

Statistic 44

80% of finance firms say they plan to increase their DEI budgets in the next year

Statistic 45

35% of financial institutions have no formal DEI policies in place

Statistic 46

80% of finance professionals believe that inclusive work environments lead to higher productivity

Statistic 47

33% of finance companies have diversity metrics published publicly

Statistic 48

58% of millennials working in finance say that DEI initiatives influence their job choice

Statistic 49

49% of financial firms report that their diversity efforts have led to measurable business improvements

Statistic 50

The percentage of employees in finance perceiving their workplace as diverse increased by 15% after DEI initiatives were introduced

Statistic 51

72% of finance industry leaders agree that ongoing DEI training is necessary for cultural change

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Key Highlights

Only 27% of financial services employees worldwide identify as women
Women hold approximately 23% of senior leadership roles in the financial industry
Minority representation in executive roles within the financial sector is only about 8%
Firms with high diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors
61% of employees in finance say inclusion is key to their retention
Less than 20% of financial advisors are women or minorities
Only 15% of board members in financial institutions are from underrepresented backgrounds
78% of employees in finance say their companies do not have sufficient diversity initiatives
Gender pay gap in the financial services industry stands at approximately 12%
40% of financial firms have implemented unconscious bias training
32% of professionals in financial firms believe their workplace is truly inclusive
Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in leadership roles by about 25% compared to their overall workforce representation
52% of LGBTQ+ employees in finance feel their workplace is not LGBTQ+ friendly

Despite mounting evidence that diverse teams outperform their peers, the financial industry still faces significant challenges, with women and minorities vastly underrepresented in leadership roles, highlighting the urgent need for authentic and strategic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to drive innovation and equity across the sector.

Ethnic and Racial Diversity and Inclusion

Minority representation in executive roles within the financial sector is only about 8%
Firms with high diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors
Less than 20% of financial advisors are women or minorities
Only 15% of board members in financial institutions are from underrepresented backgrounds
Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in leadership roles by about 25% compared to their overall workforce representation
First-generation professionals make up around 22% of the financial sector workforce
65% of minority employees in finance report experiencing microaggressions frequently
A survey shows that 55% of minority women in finance have considered leaving due to lack of advancement opportunities
64% of financial industry professionals believe that more diverse teams lead to better decision making
Financial institutions with higher ethnic and gender diversity are 25% more likely to be innovative
Only 24% of senior managers in finance are women of color
Underrepresented groups in finance report a 20% lower sense of belonging compared to their peers
48% of finance professionals feel their workplace is not actively addressing racial inequality
27% of recent finance graduates from diverse backgrounds secure internships compared to 40% of their peers from non-diverse backgrounds
60% of underrepresented groups in finance say their company should prioritize inclusive hiring practices
50% of finance employees from underrepresented groups believe their organization needs to improve mentorship programs
Only 20% of financial industry marketing campaigns focus on diverse audiences
Diversity training participation increased by 40% in the financial industry in 2023
70% of underrepresented employees in finance feel more valued when their contributions are recognized publicly
42% of employees of color in finance report experiencing discrimination or bias at work
68% of finance firms believe that improved diversity is essential for accessing new markets
54% of finance employers say that diversity and inclusion are central to their corporate identity

Ethnic and Racial Diversity and Inclusion Interpretation

Despite clear evidence that diverse financial teams outperform their less inclusive counterparts, minorities and women remain vastly underrepresented in executive and leadership roles, highlight microaggressions and bias, and indicate that many firms have yet to embed meaningful inclusion practices into their corporate DNA, making the industry’s diversity gap both a strategic shortcoming and an urgent moral imperative.

Gender Diversity and Gender Pay Gap

Only 27% of financial services employees worldwide identify as women
Only 18% of investment managers are women
Representation of women in finance is projected to increase by only 3% over the next five years without targeted initiatives

Gender Diversity and Gender Pay Gap Interpretation

These staggering numbers reveal that despite the financial industry's reliance on sharp minds and diverse perspectives, women remain underrepresented, and without deliberate action, progress will continue to crawl at a glacial pace—proving that financial inclusion isn't just good ethics; it's good economics.

Gender Pay Gap

Gender pay gap in the financial services industry stands at approximately 12%
Women of color in finance earn approximately 67 cents for every dollar earned by white men in similar roles

Gender Pay Gap Interpretation

These sobering statistics reveal that even within the financial industry’s vaults of wealth, gender and racial disparities continue to undermine true financial equality, reminding us that diversity, equity, and inclusion remain vital investments for a fairer future.

LGBTQ+ Representation and Inclusion Initiatives

52% of LGBTQ+ employees in finance feel their workplace is not LGBTQ+ friendly
45% of LGBTQ+ finance professionals report hiding their identities at work

LGBTQ+ Representation and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

Despite strides toward inclusivity, over half of LGBTQ+ professionals in finance feel their workplaces fall short, with nearly half feeling compelled to hide their identities—proof that diversity efforts still need to go beyond the spreadsheets.

Leadership and Executive Diversity

Women hold approximately 23% of senior leadership roles in the financial industry
Only 13% of finance industry leadership positions are held by individuals with disabilities
55% of finance sector CEOs say DEI is a top strategic priority
Only 22% of male finance executives recognize the importance of gender diversity initiatives
Companies with diverse leadership are 20% more likely to develop innovative financial products

Leadership and Executive Diversity Interpretation

While women and individuals with disabilities remain underrepresented in senior finance roles, the fact that over half of CEOs prioritize DEI suggests that financial firms are finally realizing that diversity isn't just ethical—it's essential for innovation and competitive advantage.

Organizational Policies, Goals, and Perceptions

61% of employees in finance say inclusion is key to their retention
78% of employees in finance say their companies do not have sufficient diversity initiatives
40% of financial firms have implemented unconscious bias training
32% of professionals in financial firms believe their workplace is truly inclusive
Only 10% of financial firms have a dedicated DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) executive or team
Investment in DEI initiatives in the financial industry increased by 28% in 2022
70% of financial organizations report that diversity improves client relations
58% of financial firms have set diversity goals for 2025
30% of finance employees believe that their organization’s DEI efforts are not authentic
80% of finance firms say they plan to increase their DEI budgets in the next year
35% of financial institutions have no formal DEI policies in place
80% of finance professionals believe that inclusive work environments lead to higher productivity
33% of finance companies have diversity metrics published publicly
58% of millennials working in finance say that DEI initiatives influence their job choice
49% of financial firms report that their diversity efforts have led to measurable business improvements
The percentage of employees in finance perceiving their workplace as diverse increased by 15% after DEI initiatives were introduced
72% of finance industry leaders agree that ongoing DEI training is necessary for cultural change

Organizational Policies, Goals, and Perceptions Interpretation

Despite a 28% surge in DEI investment and widespread belief that inclusion boosts productivity and client relations, only a fraction of financial firms have dedicated teams or transparent metrics, revealing that many industry players are still navigating the balance between aspirations and authentic action in building truly diverse workplaces.