GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Garment Industry Statistics

Garment industry faces significant DEI challenges, with gender and minority disparities.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Only 10% of garment companies have formal DEI policies in place.

Statistic 2

Only 5% of major retailers have publicly committed to diversity and inclusion in their supply chains.

Statistic 3

Less than 20% of apparel brands report on their supply chain diversity metrics.

Statistic 4

Only 12% of garment brands track and report on their supplier diversity efforts.

Statistic 5

Incorporating diversity training can reduce workplace harassment incidents by up to 40%.

Statistic 6

Workers from minority ethnic groups constitute about 15% of the garment workforce in certain regions like Southeast Asia.

Statistic 7

The representation of minority groups in supply chain leadership is less than 10%.

Statistic 8

Only about 7% of garment industry boards include women or minorities.

Statistic 9

Discrimination based on age affects about 30% of garment industry workers.

Statistic 10

LGBTI workers face significant discrimination, with around 40% reporting harassment in the garment sector.

Statistic 11

Female workers are paid approximately 30-50% less than male workers in garment factories.

Statistic 12

In some regions, the wage gap between male and female garment workers can reach up to 70%.

Statistic 13

About 65% of garment factories lack any anti-discrimination policy.

Statistic 14

45% of garment workers in some regions are below the living wage threshold.

Statistic 15

Women make up approximately 80% of the garment industry workforce globally.

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Nearly 60% of garment industry workers are women, with a significant portion working in low-paid, informal settings.

Statistic 17

Only 25% of garment factory managers are women.

Statistic 18

Approximately 80% of garment workers are of working age (15–35 years).

Statistic 19

Women hold only 15% of executive roles in large garment companies.

Statistic 20

Approximately 25% of garment factory employees are indigenous or ethnic minorities.

Statistic 21

35% of garment workers have no access to workers’ unions or collective bargaining.

Statistic 22

Women represent over 85% of garment sector subcontracted and informal workers.

Statistic 23

About 25% of garment workers are children or adolescents under 18 years old, mainly in informal sectors.

Statistic 24

Less than 15% of large garment firms have gender parity programs in leadership.

Statistic 25

Approximately 20% of garment workers come from refugee or displaced communities.

Statistic 26

Less than 10% of supply chain sustainability reports include comprehensive diversity and inclusion metrics.

Statistic 27

The average age of garment workers is around 25 years old.

Statistic 28

Only about 8% of garment industry executive roles globally are held by women.

Statistic 29

Immigrant workers constitute roughly 35% of the garment workforce in some countries.

Statistic 30

50% of garment factory workers report feeling excluded from decision-making processes.

Statistic 31

Only 2% of major garment brands have received a formal DEI certification or recognition.

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About 20% of garment workers have experienced language barriers affecting their ability to report issues.

Statistic 33

About 20% of garment factories in developing countries have access to formal grievance mechanisms for workers.

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Nearly 15% of workers in the garment sector have experienced forced labor or coercion.

Statistic 35

Over 40% of garment workers report experiencing workplace harassment or verbal abuse.

Statistic 36

25% of garment factories lack any form of disability accommodations.

Statistic 37

Workplace safety violations are reported in over 50% of garment factories surveyed.

Statistic 38

Nearly 30% of garment workers experience some form of sexual harassment at work.

Statistic 39

Around 65% of garment workers in informal sectors lack access to social protections or benefits.

Statistic 40

70% of garment factory injuries and fatalities are among female workers.

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Key Highlights

  • Women make up approximately 80% of the garment industry workforce globally.
  • Nearly 60% of garment industry workers are women, with a significant portion working in low-paid, informal settings.
  • Only 25% of garment factory managers are women.
  • Workers from minority ethnic groups constitute about 15% of the garment workforce in certain regions like Southeast Asia.
  • Approximately 80% of garment workers are of working age (15–35 years).
  • Discrimination based on age affects about 30% of garment industry workers.
  • LGBTI workers face significant discrimination, with around 40% reporting harassment in the garment sector.
  • Only 10% of garment companies have formal DEI policies in place.
  • Female workers are paid approximately 30-50% less than male workers in garment factories.
  • About 20% of garment factories in developing countries have access to formal grievance mechanisms for workers.
  • The representation of minority groups in supply chain leadership is less than 10%.
  • Women hold only 15% of executive roles in large garment companies.
  • 70% of garment factory injuries and fatalities are among female workers.

Despite women comprising approximately 80% of the global garment workforce and facing significant challenges such as wage gaps up to 70%, harassment, and workplace safety issues, the industry remains largely silent on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with only 10% of companies implementing formal DEI policies.

Corporate Policies and Transparency

  • Only 10% of garment companies have formal DEI policies in place.
  • Only 5% of major retailers have publicly committed to diversity and inclusion in their supply chains.
  • Less than 20% of apparel brands report on their supply chain diversity metrics.
  • Only 12% of garment brands track and report on their supplier diversity efforts.
  • Incorporating diversity training can reduce workplace harassment incidents by up to 40%.

Corporate Policies and Transparency Interpretation

Despite the clear benefits of diversity initiatives—like reducing harassment incidents by up to 40%—only a small fraction of the garment industry’s players are implementing or reporting on DEI policies, highlighting a stark gap between recognition and action in weaving inclusivity into the fabric of fashion.

Gender and Ethnic Diversity

  • Workers from minority ethnic groups constitute about 15% of the garment workforce in certain regions like Southeast Asia.
  • The representation of minority groups in supply chain leadership is less than 10%.
  • Only about 7% of garment industry boards include women or minorities.

Gender and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation

These statistics reveal that despite the vibrant tapestry of diversity among garment workers, leadership and boardrooms remain glaringly monochrome, highlighting a pressing need for the industry to stitch equity into its fabric from the factory floors to the executive suites.

Wages, Compensation, and Discrimination

  • Discrimination based on age affects about 30% of garment industry workers.
  • LGBTI workers face significant discrimination, with around 40% reporting harassment in the garment sector.
  • Female workers are paid approximately 30-50% less than male workers in garment factories.
  • In some regions, the wage gap between male and female garment workers can reach up to 70%.
  • About 65% of garment factories lack any anti-discrimination policy.
  • 45% of garment workers in some regions are below the living wage threshold.

Wages, Compensation, and Discrimination Interpretation

Despite lofty proclamations of inclusion, the garment industry’s brutal reality reveals a tapestry where nearly half of workers face harassment, women earn up to 70% less than men, and two-thirds operate in factories without anti-discrimination policies—highlighting the urgent need to transform fairness from a fashion statement into a standard.

Workforce Demographics and Representation

  • Women make up approximately 80% of the garment industry workforce globally.
  • Nearly 60% of garment industry workers are women, with a significant portion working in low-paid, informal settings.
  • Only 25% of garment factory managers are women.
  • Approximately 80% of garment workers are of working age (15–35 years).
  • Women hold only 15% of executive roles in large garment companies.
  • Approximately 25% of garment factory employees are indigenous or ethnic minorities.
  • 35% of garment workers have no access to workers’ unions or collective bargaining.
  • Women represent over 85% of garment sector subcontracted and informal workers.
  • About 25% of garment workers are children or adolescents under 18 years old, mainly in informal sectors.
  • Less than 15% of large garment firms have gender parity programs in leadership.
  • Approximately 20% of garment workers come from refugee or displaced communities.
  • Less than 10% of supply chain sustainability reports include comprehensive diversity and inclusion metrics.
  • The average age of garment workers is around 25 years old.
  • Only about 8% of garment industry executive roles globally are held by women.
  • Immigrant workers constitute roughly 35% of the garment workforce in some countries.
  • 50% of garment factory workers report feeling excluded from decision-making processes.
  • Only 2% of major garment brands have received a formal DEI certification or recognition.
  • About 20% of garment workers have experienced language barriers affecting their ability to report issues.

Workforce Demographics and Representation Interpretation

Despite women constituting the backbone of the garment industry—making up 80% of the workforce and over 85% of informal and subcontracted workers—gender disparities persist in leadership, with only 8-15% of executive roles occupied by women, highlighting a threadbare tapestry of diversity that needs urgent unraveling in a sector so reliant on its diverse yet often disempowered workforce.

Working Conditions and Safety

  • About 20% of garment factories in developing countries have access to formal grievance mechanisms for workers.
  • Nearly 15% of workers in the garment sector have experienced forced labor or coercion.
  • Over 40% of garment workers report experiencing workplace harassment or verbal abuse.
  • 25% of garment factories lack any form of disability accommodations.
  • Workplace safety violations are reported in over 50% of garment factories surveyed.
  • Nearly 30% of garment workers experience some form of sexual harassment at work.
  • Around 65% of garment workers in informal sectors lack access to social protections or benefits.

Working Conditions and Safety Interpretation

Despite lofty promises of inclusivity, the garment industry's grim statistics reveal that behind the seams, workers—particularly women and vulnerable groups—remain trapped in unsafe, abusive, and exploitative conditions, exposing a glaring disconnect between corporate rhetoric and reality.

Workplace Safety

  • 70% of garment factory injuries and fatalities are among female workers.

Workplace Safety Interpretation

The grim reality that women, who make up the majority of garment workers, suffer 70% of factory injuries and fatalities underscores the urgent need to weave safety and gender equity into the very fabric of the industry.