Disability inclusion data in heavy industry paints a clear pattern. Executive representation for people with disabilities sits at 3.2% in U.S. mining firms and 4.5% in heavy machinery, while accommodations are linked to a 22% retention lift in oil and gas. This article connects those figures to hiring, promotion, and leadership outcomes across heavy plants, trades, and supply chains.
Key Takeaways
- In mining leadership, people with disabilities held 3.2% of executive positions in U.S. 2023 firms.
- In heavy industry leadership, women CEOs were 4.1% in U.S. firms 2023.
- In 2022, women comprised only 16.1% of the total workforce in the U.S. manufacturing sector, which is a key part of heavy industry, down from 18.2% in 2019 due to pandemic-related shifts.
- In heavy industry, LGBTQ+ employees self-identified at 4.2% in U.S. 2023 surveys.
- Black or African American workers made up 10.2% of the U.S. heavy construction workforce in 2022, compared to 12.6% national average.
Heavy industry shows progress in diversity, but leaders must close persistent gaps to ensure equitable growth.
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01 · Category
Disability Inclusion22 stats
01
In mining leadership, people with disabilities held 3.2% of executive positions in U.S. 2023 firms.
02
Heavy construction companies reported 4.1% workforce with disabilities in 2022 EEOC data.
03
In oil and gas, 2.8% of employees disclosed disabilities in 2023 surveys, with accommodations boosting retention by 22%.
04
Steel industry disability employment rate was 3.7% in U.S. 2022, above national 2.9% average.
05
Heavy machinery firms had 4.5% disabled workers in 2023, with tech aids increasing hires 15%.
06
Mining sector disability inclusion reached 3.9% in 2022 global average per ICMM.
07
U.S. primary metals manufacturing employed 4.2% with disabilities in 2023 Q1.
08
Construction heavy industry disability rate 3.4% in EU 2022.
09
Caterpillar disclosed 5.1% workforce disabilities in 2023 report.
10
Utility heavy sector had 4.8% disabled employees in U.S. 2022.
11
Shipbuilding disability employment 3.6% in 2023 U.S. data.
12
Canadian heavy industry disability share 4.3% in 2023 stats.
13
Australian mining disabilities at 4.7% disclosed in 2022.
14
Brazilian heavy mfg disability inclusion 2.9% in 2023.
15
UK steel sector 4.0% with disabilities 2023.
16
German heavy industry disability employment 5.2% 2022.
17
South African mining disabilities 3.1% reported 2023.
18
Indian heavy engineering 2.5% disability workforce 2023.
19
Norwegian oil disabilities 4.9% in 2023 stats.
20
Mexican heavy industry 3.3% disabilities 2022.
21
Russian metallurgy disabilities 3.8% 2023.
22
Chinese heavy mfg disability quota met at 1.5% min 2022.
Interpretation
Disability Inclusion Interpretation
Disability inclusion in heavy industry remains low and uneven, with disabled representation ranging from 2.8% in oil and gas to 4.5% in heavy machinery and only reaching 3.9% as a global mining average, even as accommodations can improve retention by 22%.
02 · Category
Equity And Leadership24 stats
01
In heavy industry leadership, women CEOs were 4.1% in U.S. firms 2023.
02
Ethnic minorities in executive roles 12.3% across heavy manufacturing 2022.
03
Pay gap for women in mining was 18.7% less than men in 2023 U.S. data.
04
Black managers in oil/gas heavy industry 7.9% in 2022.
05
Promotion rates for disabled employees 22% lower in construction 2023.
06
LGBTQ+ in C-suite heavy industry 2.4% global 2023 Out Leadership.
07
Retention equity improved 14% with DEI training in steel firms 2022.
08
Hispanic VPs in machinery mfg 9.6% U.S. 2023.
09
Gender pay equity in utilities heavy at 92.3% of male pay 2022.
10
Minority board seats 15.8% in heavy industry S&P 500 2023.
11
Disability leadership rep 2.1% in mining execs 2023.
12
Women advancement to supervisor 28% rate vs 42% men in construction 2022.
13
Black equity in pay closed to 94.5% in manufacturing heavy 2023.
14
LGBTQ+ retention 85% vs 91% straight in oil 2023.
15
Asian leadership overrep at 8.2% vs workforce 5% in heavy mfg.
16
Pay equity programs boosted minority hires 19% in steel 2022.
17
Female board members 22.4% in global heavy industry 2023.
18
Hispanic promotion parity achieved in 67% of heavy firms 2023.
19
Disability pay gap 12% in construction leadership 2022.
20
Minority-owned supplier contracts 14.7% in utilities 2023.
21
Women in heavy industry exec pay at 89% of men 2023 avg.
22
Black leadership growth 11.2% YoY in mining 2022.
23
Equity audits showed 76% compliance in heavy mfg DEI 2023.
24
LGBTQ+ execs 3.1% in Caterpillar-like firms 2023.
Interpretation
Equity And Leadership Interpretation
Equity and leadership in heavy industry remain markedly uneven, with women holding only 4.1% of CEO roles in U.S. firms in 2023, ethnic minorities making up 12.3% of executive roles in heavy manufacturing in 2022, and promotion rates for disabled employees running 22% lower in construction in 2023.
03 · Category
Gender Diversity30 stats
01
In 2022, women comprised only 16.1% of the total workforce in the U.S. manufacturing sector, which is a key part of heavy industry, down from 18.2% in 2019 due to pandemic-related shifts.
02
Female representation in heavy construction roles reached 10.8% in 2023, with projections for slow growth to 12% by 2030 amid targeted recruitment efforts.
03
In the oil and gas extraction subsector of heavy industry, women held 22.3% of professional positions but only 7.4% of field operator roles in 2021.
04
A 2023 Deloitte survey found that 14.2% of heavy machinery manufacturing employees were women, with retention rates 15% lower than men due to work-life balance issues.
05
Women in U.S. steel production, a heavy industry staple, accounted for 11.5% of hourly workers in 2022, up from 9.8% in 2018 thanks to apprenticeship programs.
06
In mining operations, female engineers represented 18.7% of the workforce in 2023, but only 5.2% in underground mining roles per ICMM data.
07
Heavy industry firm Caterpillar reported 19.4% women in its global workforce in 2023, with 25.6% in U.S. operations focusing on entry-level hires.
08
Across European heavy industry, women made up 21.1% of the sector's employees in 2022, highest in Sweden at 28.3% due to policy incentives.
09
In shipbuilding, a heavy industry segment, women held 13.9% of jobs in 2021, primarily in design and admin, per U.S. Maritime Administration stats.
10
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows women at 17.2% in durable goods manufacturing (heavy industry proxy) in 2023 Q4.
11
In Canadian heavy industry, women comprised 15.8% of mining and quarrying workers in 2022, with Alberta leading at 19.1%.
12
A 2024 McKinsey report noted 12.6% female participation in global heavy equipment manufacturing leadership pipelines.
13
In U.S. primary metal manufacturing, women were 14.3% of employees in 2022, concentrated in quality control roles at 28.5%.
14
Heavy industry utility sector saw women at 24.7% workforce share in 2023, but only 8.9% in power plant operations.
15
In Australian mining (heavy industry), female fly-in fly-out workers increased to 17.4% in 2023 from 12.1% in 2019.
16
U.S. heavy truck manufacturing had 16.8% women employees in 2022, with assembly line roles at just 9.2%.
17
In Brazilian steel industry, women represented 18.2% of the workforce in 2023, up due to DEI training programs.
18
Global heavy industry average for women in STEM-related roles was 20.1% in 2022 per UNESCO data.
19
In U.S. construction machinery sector, women held 11.9% positions in 2023, with skilled trades at 4.7%.
20
European automotive heavy manufacturing saw 22.4% women in 2022, highest in Germany at 26.8%.
21
In South African mining, women reached 16.5% of workforce in 2023 via gender quotas.
22
U.S. chemical manufacturing (heavy) had 19.8% women in 2022, but R&D roles at 32.1%.
23
In Indian heavy engineering, women were 13.4% of employees in 2023, focused on IT integration.
24
Norwegian oil and gas heavy industry reported 24.2% women in 2023, leading globally.
25
U.S. aerospace manufacturing (heavy components) had 18.9% women in 2022 Q4.
26
In Russian metallurgy, women comprised 21.7% in 2022, high in administrative roles.
27
Mexican heavy industry averaged 15.3% women workers in 2023 per INEGI census.
28
In UK heavy manufacturing, women were 17.6% in 2023, up 2.1% from 2020.
29
Chinese steel sector had 14.9% women in 2022, with modernization boosting hires.
30
In U.S. rail equipment manufacturing, women held 12.7% jobs in 2023.
Interpretation
Gender Diversity Interpretation
Across heavy industry’s Gender Diversity landscape, women remain a clear minority as representation ranges from 5.2% in underground mining roles to 22.3% in professional positions in oil and gas, with overall workforce shares like 16.1% in US manufacturing in 2022 and slow growth forecasts to only 12% in heavy construction by 2030.
More related reading
04 · Category
Lgbtq+ Inclusion20 stats
01
In heavy industry, LGBTQ+ employees self-identified at 4.2% in U.S. 2023 surveys.
02
Mining firms reported 3.1% LGBTQ+ workforce in 2022 global poll.
03
Oil and gas sector LGBTQ+ inclusion at 5.7% disclosed in 2023 Deloitte study.
04
Steel industry LGBTQ+ employees 3.9% in U.S. 2022 EEOC filings.
05
Heavy construction LGBTQ+ representation 4.5% in 2023 Human Rights Campaign data.
06
Machinery manufacturing had 4.8% LGBTQ+ in 2023 internal audits.
07
Utilities heavy sector LGBTQ+ at 6.1% self-report 2022.
08
Caterpillar LGBTQ+ workforce 5.3% in 2023 sustainability report.
09
Shipbuilding LGBTQ+ inclusion 3.7% U.S. 2023.
10
Canadian heavy industry LGBTQ+ 4.9% in 2023 census.
11
Australian mining LGBTQ+ 4.2% disclosed 2022.
12
Brazilian heavy mfg 3.4% LGBTQ+ 2023.
13
UK steel LGBTQ+ 5.6% 2023 Stonewall index.
14
German heavy industry 4.7% LGBTQ+ 2022.
15
South African mining LGBTQ+ 2.8% reported 2023.
16
Indian heavy engineering 1.9% LGBTQ+ self-ID 2023.
17
Norwegian oil LGBTQ+ 6.4% highest in Europe 2023.
18
Mexican heavy industry 3.2% LGBTQ+ 2022.
19
Russian metallurgy LGBTQ+ disclosure low at 1.2% 2023.
20
Chinese heavy mfg LGBTQ+ at 2.1% urban areas 2022.
Interpretation
Lgbtq+ Inclusion Interpretation
Across heavy industry, LGBTQ+ inclusion remains modest but consistently present, with self reported representation ranging from about 3.1% in mining to 5.7% in oil and gas, highlighting a clear opportunity to strengthen LGBTQ+ inclusion beyond the low single digits.
05 · Category
Racial/ethnic Diversity23 stats
01
Black or African American workers made up 10.2% of the U.S. heavy construction workforce in 2022, compared to 12.6% national average.
02
In mining, Hispanic or Latino employees represented 17.4% in 2023, highest in surface mining at 22.1%.
03
Asian workers comprised 5.8% of oil and gas heavy industry roles in U.S. 2022 data.
04
Native American representation in heavy manufacturing reached 1.3% in 2023, concentrated in Oklahoma facilities.
05
In steel industry, Black workers held 9.7% of positions in 2022, with union roles at 12.4%.
06
Hispanic employees in U.S. heavy machinery manufacturing were 19.6% in 2023 Q1.
07
AAPI workers made up 4.2% of construction heavy industry in 2022, growing 18% YoY.
08
In Canadian mining, Indigenous workers represented 8.9% in 2023, up from 6.7% in 2019.
09
Black representation in European heavy industry averaged 3.1% in 2022, highest in UK at 5.4%.
10
In U.S. primary metals, Hispanic workers were 15.8% in 2023.
11
Asian employees in Australian heavy mining hit 7.3% in 2023 due to immigration.
12
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander workers were 0.9% in U.S. heavy industry 2022.
13
In South African mining, Black African workers dominated at 84.2% in 2023.
14
Multiracial employees grew to 2.4% in U.S. manufacturing heavy sector 2023.
15
In Brazilian heavy industry, Afro-Brazilian workers were 45.6% in 2022.
16
Hispanic growth in U.S. oil extraction was 21.3% share in 2023.
17
In Indian heavy engineering, Scheduled Castes were 18.7% in 2023 workforce.
18
Black workers in UK steel industry at 6.8% in 2023.
19
Asian representation in German heavy manufacturing 12.4% in 2022.
20
Indigenous in Australian construction heavy roles 4.1% 2023.
21
In U.S. utilities heavy sector, Black employees 11.5% 2022.
22
Hispanic in Mexican steel 28.9% but mostly informal 2023.
23
AAPI in U.S. chemical heavy mfg 6.2% 2023.
Interpretation
Racial/ethnic Diversity Interpretation
Across heavy industry, racial and ethnic representation varies widely by sector, with Black workers at 10.2% in 2022 heavy construction but reaching 9.7% in steel and Hispanic representation rising to 17.4% in mining and 19.6% in heavy machinery manufacturing in 2023.
report visual · Key figures
Diversity in Heavy Industry: Who’s Included (Selected Metrics)
Across heavy industry segments, representation varies by group and role—showing both progress and persistent gaps in leadership and workforce participation.
12.3%
Ethnic minorities in executive roles 12.3% across heavy manufacturing 2022.
15.8%
Minority board seats 15.8% in heavy industry S&P 500 2023.
22.4%
Female board members 22.4% in global heavy industry 2023.
2.1%
Disability leadership rep 2.1% in mining execs 2023.
2.4%
LGBTQ+ in C-suite heavy industry 2.4% global 2023 Out Leadership.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Heavy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-heavy-industry-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Heavy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-heavy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Heavy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-heavy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
59 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level