Industrial companies are expanding DEI programs while job roles still split along predictable lines. In 2023, 72% reported DEI training programs, yet leadership remains far less diverse, with Black executives at 8.3%. The following figures track where hiring improves and where advancement lags across workforce, pay equity, and retention.
Key Takeaways
- 72% of industrial companies have DEI training programs implemented by 2023.
- In the U.S. manufacturing sector, women comprised 29.1% of the total workforce in 2022, down slightly from 29.5% in 2021.
- Retention rates for diverse employees improved 18% post-DEI initiatives in manufacturing 2023.
- In manufacturing leadership, only 8.3% are Black executives in 2023 NAM report.
- Black or African American workers represent 9.2% of the manufacturing workforce in 2022.
Diverse and inclusive teams in industrial workplaces drive better retention and stronger performance overall.
Related reading
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Commercial Industry Statistics
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Consumer Goods Industry Statistics
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Health Care Industry Statistics
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Steel Industry Statistics
01 · Category
Equity Programs25 stats
01
72% of industrial companies have DEI training programs implemented by 2023.
02
45% of manufacturing firms report increased DEI budget allocations in 2022-2023.
03
61% of industrial leaders launched mentorship for underrepresented groups in 2023.
04
38% of companies in heavy industry adopted pay equity audits annually since 2022.
05
52% of manufacturing firms have supplier diversity programs targeting minority-owned businesses in 2023.
06
67% of industrial sectors report ERGs for women and minorities active in 2022.
07
29% increase in DEI hiring goals set by industrial companies from 2021-2023.
08
44% of firms implemented unconscious bias training for managers in 2023.
09
55% of manufacturing plants have accessibility improvements for DEI by 2022.
10
36% of industrial companies partner with HBCUs for recruitment in 2023.
11
48% report flexible work policies to boost equity in 2022 surveys.
12
62% of chemical manufacturers have gender equity targets in place 2023.
13
41% of construction firms launched equity scholarships in 2022.
14
53% of automotive suppliers adopted inclusive recruitment tech 2023.
15
39% increase in equity-focused leadership development programs 2022-2023.
16
57% of electronics firms have racial equity metrics tracked quarterly 2023.
17
34% of mining companies implemented land acknowledgment for indigenous equity 2022.
18
49% of food processors have family leave equity policies enhanced 2023.
19
46% report DEI in performance reviews for promotions 2022.
20
51% of machinery firms have veteran equity programs integrated 2023.
21
63% adopted diverse interview panels standard in industrials 2022.
22
Industrial firms with DEI retention bonuses: 27% in 2023 surveys.
23
59% of plastics manufacturers track promotion equity gaps 2022.
24
DEI employee resource groups grew 25% in manufacturing 2022-2023.
25
42% implemented equitable benefits for part-time industrial workers 2023.
Interpretation
Equity Programs Interpretation
The industry is making genuine, if uneven, progress on DEI, moving from widespread training toward the harder work of pay equity, retention, and accountability.
02 · Category
Gender Diversity30 stats
01
In the U.S. manufacturing sector, women comprised 29.1% of the total workforce in 2022, down slightly from 29.5% in 2021.
02
Female representation in industrial production occupations stood at 25.4% in 2022, primarily in assembly and packaging roles.
03
Only 12% of engineers in the industrial machinery manufacturing industry are women as of 2023.
04
In heavy and civil engineering construction, women make up just 10.9% of the workforce in 2022.
05
Women hold 22.3% of management positions in fabricated metal product manufacturing per 2022 data.
06
In the chemical manufacturing industry, female employees represent 28.7% of the total workforce in 2023.
07
Female participation in mining and quarrying occupations is a mere 14.2% as of 2022 BLS survey.
08
In primary metal manufacturing, women account for 18.5% of employees in 2022.
09
Women in industrial truck and tractor operation roles: 9.8% in 2022.
10
Across U.S. industrial sectors, women's share in skilled trades like welding is only 4.5% in 2023.
11
In electrical equipment manufacturing, women comprise 32.1% of the workforce per 2022 data.
12
Female representation in industrial design roles within manufacturing: 26.7% in 2023.
13
In food manufacturing, women hold 45.2% of positions, higher than most industrial sectors in 2022.
14
Women in quality control roles in industrial production: 38.4% as of 2023.
15
In transportation equipment manufacturing, female workforce share is 27.9% in 2022.
16
Female machinists and tool programmers: 7.2% in industrial settings per 2022 BLS.
17
In plastics and rubber products manufacturing, women are 34.6% of employees in 2023.
18
Women in industrial maintenance and repair occupations: 11.3% in 2022.
19
Across industrial R&D roles, women represent 24.8% in manufacturing firms in 2023.
20
In computer and electronic product manufacturing, female share is 33.5% per 2022 data.
21
Female supervisors in production and operating workers: 19.7% in industrial sectors 2023.
22
In nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing, women comprise 26.2% of workforce in 2022.
23
Women in industrial safety roles: 22.1% as of 2023 BLS occupational data.
24
Female representation in industrial sales roles: 31.4% in manufacturing 2022.
25
In paper manufacturing, women hold 38.9% of positions per 2023 data.
26
Women in industrial logistics and supply chain: 28.5% in 2022.
27
Female industrial hygienists: 21.6% in manufacturing sectors 2023.
28
In furniture and related product manufacturing, women are 42.3% of workforce 2022.
29
Women in industrial training and development roles: 35.7% per 2023.
30
Overall gender pay gap in U.S. manufacturing: women earn 82.3% of men's wages in 2022.
Interpretation
Gender Diversity Interpretation
The statistics reveal an industrial landscape where women are systematically clustered into support roles and specific sectors, while their presence thins to a token drizzle in the trades, leadership, and core engineering functions, all under the persistent cloud of a pay gap.
03 · Category
Inclusion Outcomes24 stats
01
Retention rates for diverse employees improved 18% post-DEI initiatives in manufacturing 2023.
02
Employee engagement scores rose 22% in firms with strong DEI cultures in industrials 2022.
03
Turnover among women in manufacturing dropped 15% after inclusion programs 2023.
04
Innovation patent filings increased 28% in diverse industrial teams 2022.
05
Satisfaction surveys show 34% higher scores for minorities in inclusive firms 2023.
06
Productivity gains of 19% linked to DEI in manufacturing plants 2022.
07
Absenteeism reduced by 12% in high-inclusion industrial workplaces 2023.
08
Promotion rates for underrepresented groups up 24% post-equity efforts 2022.
09
91% of diverse manufacturing teams report higher belonging in 2023 surveys.
10
Safety incident rates fell 17% in inclusive industrial environments 2022.
11
Customer satisfaction improved 21% for firms prioritizing DEI 2023.
12
Leadership pipeline diversity boosted retention by 26% in industrials 2022.
13
Mental health support via inclusion led to 14% lower stress claims 2023.
14
Collaboration scores up 30% in cross-diverse industrial teams 2022.
15
ESG scores rose 25% with strong DEI implementation in manufacturing 2023.
16
Training completion rates 20% higher for included minorities 2022.
17
Grievance filings dropped 31% in DEI-committed firms 2023.
18
Revenue growth 16% higher in diverse inclusive industrials 2022.
19
Volunteerism rates up 23% in companies with active ERGs 2023.
20
Net promoter scores for employees: 29 points higher with inclusion 2022.
21
Skill development completion 27% faster in inclusive settings 2023.
22
Litigation costs reduced 18% via proactive DEI in industrials 2022.
23
Brand perception improved 22% for DEI-leading manufacturers 2023.
24
Whistleblower confidence up 35% in inclusive cultures 2022.
Interpretation
Inclusion Outcomes Interpretation
Turns out that when we stop being obtuse about angles, the entire industrial machine simply runs better, smarter, and more profitably, proving that inclusion isn't just a moral imperative but an engineering one.
More related reading
04 · Category
Leadership Diversity22 stats
01
In manufacturing leadership, only 8.3% are Black executives in 2023 NAM report.
02
Women CEOs in industrial firms: 4.2% of Fortune 500 manufacturing companies 2023.
03
Hispanic executives in U.S. manufacturing: 5.1% per 2022 Deloitte study.
04
Asian American VPs in heavy industry: 6.7% in 2023 McKinsey data.
05
Black board members in industrial corporations: 7.9% average in 2022.
06
Female C-suite in manufacturing: 10.5% across top firms 2023.
07
Native American leaders in energy and mining: 0.8% in 2022.
08
Hispanic VPs in automotive manufacturing: 6.2% per 2023.
09
Women on boards of industrial companies: 22.4% in 2023 Russell 3000.
10
Black CFOs in manufacturing S&P 500: 3.1% 2022.
11
Asian directors in chemical industry: 8.9% per 2023.
12
Female plant managers in industrial sites: 12.7% in 2022 NAM.
13
Hispanic senior managers in construction manufacturing: 7.4% 2023.
14
Black COOs in machinery firms: 4.8% per Deloitte 2022.
15
Women CHROs in industrial sectors: 28.3% in 2023.
16
Asian board chairs in electronics manufacturing: 5.6% 2022.
17
Native Hawaiian leaders rare at 0.3% in Pacific industrial firms 2023.
18
Multiracial executives in manufacturing: 1.9% per 2022 census.
19
Female EVPs in metal fabrication: 9.2% in 2023.
20
Black directors in energy manufacturing: 6.5% 2022.
21
Hispanic CIOs in industrial tech: 4.7% per Gartner 2023.
22
Women in senior operations roles: 15.8% across industrials 2023 PwC.
Interpretation
Leadership Diversity Interpretation
While the industry's machinery might be state-of-the-art, its leadership roster appears to be running on a very old, exclusionary blueprint, judging by the startlingly low percentages of diverse representation across nearly every executive level.
05 · Category
Racial and Ethnic Diversity27 stats
01
Black or African American workers represent 9.2% of the manufacturing workforce in 2022.
02
Hispanic or Latino employees in industrial sectors: 19.8% of total manufacturing jobs 2022.
03
Asian workers in U.S. manufacturing: 6.5% as of 2023 BLS data.
04
Native American or Alaska Native representation in industrial production: 1.1% in 2022.
05
In chemical manufacturing, Black workers hold 10.4% of positions per 2022.
06
Hispanic share in construction materials manufacturing: 25.3% in 2023.
07
Asian employees in electronics manufacturing: 12.7% of workforce 2022.
08
Black representation in primary metals industry: 11.9% per 2023 data.
09
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander in industrial roles: 0.4% across manufacturing 2022.
10
Multiracial workers in U.S. industrial sectors: 2.3% in 2023 BLS survey.
11
In transportation equipment manufacturing, Hispanic workers: 22.1% in 2022.
12
Black employees in fabricated metal products: 9.8% per 2023.
13
Asian share in machinery manufacturing: 8.2% of total 2022.
14
White non-Hispanic workers dominate mining at 78.6% in 2023.
15
Hispanic representation in food manufacturing: 28.4% in 2022.
16
Black workers in plastics manufacturing: 12.1% per 2023 data.
17
Asian in computer product manufacturing: 15.3% of workforce 2022.
18
Native American in wood product manufacturing: 1.8% in 2023.
19
Hispanic in electrical equipment manufacturing: 20.7% per 2022.
20
Black share in paper manufacturing: 10.2% in 2023 BLS.
21
Asian workers in pharmaceutical manufacturing: 14.9% 2022.
22
Multiracial in furniture manufacturing: 3.1% per 2023.
23
White workers in industrial R&D: 72.4% dominance in 2022.
24
Hispanic in industrial maintenance: 24.6% in 2023.
25
Black in quality control manufacturing: 11.5% 2022.
26
Asian supervisors in production: 7.8% per 2023 data.
27
Native American in mining operations: 1.4% in 2022.
Interpretation
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
The industrial sector's workforce mosaic reveals a clear but uneven pattern where representation often shifts dramatically depending on the specific factory floor, highlighting that while industry-wide DEI progress may be moving at a grind, the true picture is in the granular details of each sector.
Reference
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APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Industrial Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-industrial-industry-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Industrial Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-industrial-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Industrial Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-industrial-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
49 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level