GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Life Science Industry Statistics

Diversity in life sciences enhances innovation, performance, and research equity significantly.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Less than 10% of funding in venture capital investments in biotech go to women-led startups

Statistic 2

Grant funding for minority-led life sciences startups has increased by 35% over the past three years, but remains below 10% of total funds

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Women hold only 30% of leadership roles in the life sciences industry

Statistic 4

Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially

Statistic 5

Only 22% of board seats in life sciences companies are held by women

Statistic 6

Women make up 45% of the overall workforce in the life sciences but only 25% of executive leadership

Statistic 7

Multi-national companies with diverse boards are 1.8 times more innovative, according to Deloitte’s diversity study

Statistic 8

Female-led biotech startups have a 25% higher survival rate than male-led startups, indicating the benefits of gender diversity

Statistic 9

Companies with more than 40% women in leadership roles tend to outperform those with less by 26%, indicating strong gender diversity benefits

Statistic 10

The representation of Asian professionals in biotech is approximately 18%, close to their proportion in the general population, but still underrepresented in leadership roles

Statistic 11

Ethnic minorities make up about 16% of clinical trial participants, despite representing 30% of the population

Statistic 12

Patients from underrepresented backgrounds are 20-30% less likely to participate in clinical trials, impacting research equity

Statistic 13

Only 28% of clinical trials report demographic data disaggregated by race and ethnicity, limiting transparency

Statistic 14

Increasing diversity in clinical trial leadership is associated with a 20% higher probability of recruiting diverse patient populations

Statistic 15

Underrepresented minorities account for approximately 12% of the workforce in biotech

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Women in STEM roles tend to earn approximately 15% less than their male colleagues

Statistic 17

Nearly 50% of life sciences organizations say diversity recruitment is a top priority, but only 30% have a strategic plan in place

Statistic 18

Minority employees report a 25% higher turnover rate than majority groups in biotech firms

Statistic 19

The representation of Black professionals in biotech is approximately 5%, well below the national average for STEM fields

Statistic 20

60% of life sciences companies lack comprehensive diversity training programs

Statistic 21

Female scientists tend to be cited 26% less than their male counterparts, indicating potential gender bias in scientific recognition

Statistic 22

Inclusion of diverse voices in research teams correlates with a 15% increase in innovation and problem-solving efficiency

Statistic 23

65% of life sciences firms see diversity as key to market competitiveness, yet only 20% have fully integrated it into their corporate strategy

Statistic 24

Bias and lack of diversity training contribute to an estimated 15% loss in productivity in biotech teams

Statistic 25

The gender pay gap in biotech industry is approximately 18%, favoring men, when comparing median wages

Statistic 26

The life sciences industry employs approximately 750,000 people globally, yet only 15% are from underrepresented groups

Statistic 27

Higher diversity within research teams correlates with increased publication output and citation impact, by about 12%, according to a study published in Research Policy

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Over 60% of biotech firms do not have designated diversity and inclusion officers or teams, suggesting a lack of dedicated oversight

Statistic 29

Majority of life sciences companies report barriers in diversifying their talent pipelines, including lack of outreach and unconscious bias

Statistic 30

Training programs for unconscious bias have increased in life sciences firms by about 45% over the last 5 years, but their effectiveness varies widely

Statistic 31

Only 35% of life sciences companies have specific diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals aligned with their business objectives, indicating room for strategic improvement

Statistic 32

Female scientists are more likely to mentor colleagues but less likely to be promoted into senior leadership, highlighting a potential gender pipeline issue

Statistic 33

There is a 15% gap in participation rates of minority groups in biotech internship programs compared to majority groups, limiting early career diversity

Statistic 34

Companies with higher levels of ethnic diversity are 1.7 times more likely to develop innovative health solutions, according to Deloitte

Statistic 35

80% of life sciences companies have diversity and inclusion initiatives, but only 45% measure their progress

Statistic 36

LGBT+ employees report lower levels of job satisfaction in life sciences industries, at about 20% less than their peers

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40% of minority employees report experiencing bias or discrimination in the workplace

Statistic 38

55% of women in biotech report experiences of gender bias, with many citing suppressed career advancement opportunities

Statistic 39

Representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in biotech is under 10%, with many fearing a lack of acceptance in workplace culture

Statistic 40

Companies with inclusive cultures report 22% higher employee engagement scores, which correlates to better productivity

Statistic 41

70% of life sciences professionals believe diversity initiatives positively impact innovation, but only 40% see clear leadership commitment

Statistic 42

Approximately 50% of underrepresented minorities in science jobs feel that the workplace is unaffordable or inaccessible, affecting retention

Statistic 43

Employee resource groups (ERGs) for ethnic and gender minorities increase feelings of inclusivity by over 30%, according to internal studies

Statistic 44

Industry surveys show that 75% of employees believe that more inclusive policies would improve overall morale and productivity, yet implementation remains inconsistent

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Key Highlights

Women hold only 30% of leadership roles in the life sciences industry
Underrepresented minorities account for approximately 12% of the workforce in biotech
Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially
Only 22% of board seats in life sciences companies are held by women
Ethnic minorities make up about 16% of clinical trial participants, despite representing 30% of the population
80% of life sciences companies have diversity and inclusion initiatives, but only 45% measure their progress
LGBT+ employees report lower levels of job satisfaction in life sciences industries, at about 20% less than their peers
Women in STEM roles tend to earn approximately 15% less than their male colleagues
Less than 10% of funding in venture capital investments in biotech go to women-led startups
Nearly 50% of life sciences organizations say diversity recruitment is a top priority, but only 30% have a strategic plan in place
Minority employees report a 25% higher turnover rate than majority groups in biotech firms
The representation of Black professionals in biotech is approximately 5%, well below the national average for STEM fields
Women make up 45% of the overall workforce in the life sciences but only 25% of executive leadership

Despite recognizing the critical importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the life sciences industry—where women hold only 30% of leadership roles and minorities make up just 12% of the workforce—companies that prioritize diverse leadership and implement strategic initiatives are significantly more innovative and profitable, underscoring the urgent need for meaningful change in this vital sector.

Industry Investment and Funding Disparities

Less than 10% of funding in venture capital investments in biotech go to women-led startups
Grant funding for minority-led life sciences startups has increased by 35% over the past three years, but remains below 10% of total funds

Industry Investment and Funding Disparities Interpretation

Despite promising gains—like a 35% boost in grant funding for minority-led startups—women and minorities still receive less than 10% of biotech venture capital, highlighting a persistent gap between intent and impactful inclusion in the life sciences industry.

Leadership and Board Composition

Women hold only 30% of leadership roles in the life sciences industry
Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially
Only 22% of board seats in life sciences companies are held by women
Women make up 45% of the overall workforce in the life sciences but only 25% of executive leadership
Multi-national companies with diverse boards are 1.8 times more innovative, according to Deloitte’s diversity study
Female-led biotech startups have a 25% higher survival rate than male-led startups, indicating the benefits of gender diversity
Companies with more than 40% women in leadership roles tend to outperform those with less by 26%, indicating strong gender diversity benefits
The representation of Asian professionals in biotech is approximately 18%, close to their proportion in the general population, but still underrepresented in leadership roles

Leadership and Board Composition Interpretation

Despite women comprising nearly half of the biotech workforce, their scant 30% presence in leadership—and even less in boardrooms—underscores that diversity isn’t just a moral imperative but a clear driver of innovation and financial success.

Research and Clinical Trials Inclusion

Ethnic minorities make up about 16% of clinical trial participants, despite representing 30% of the population
Patients from underrepresented backgrounds are 20-30% less likely to participate in clinical trials, impacting research equity
Only 28% of clinical trials report demographic data disaggregated by race and ethnicity, limiting transparency
Increasing diversity in clinical trial leadership is associated with a 20% higher probability of recruiting diverse patient populations

Research and Clinical Trials Inclusion Interpretation

Despite comprising 30% of the population, ethnic minorities account for only 16% of clinical trial participants, underscoring a pressing need for inclusive leadership and transparency to ensure research equity in the life sciences.

Workforce Diversity and Representation

Underrepresented minorities account for approximately 12% of the workforce in biotech
Women in STEM roles tend to earn approximately 15% less than their male colleagues
Nearly 50% of life sciences organizations say diversity recruitment is a top priority, but only 30% have a strategic plan in place
Minority employees report a 25% higher turnover rate than majority groups in biotech firms
The representation of Black professionals in biotech is approximately 5%, well below the national average for STEM fields
60% of life sciences companies lack comprehensive diversity training programs
Female scientists tend to be cited 26% less than their male counterparts, indicating potential gender bias in scientific recognition
Inclusion of diverse voices in research teams correlates with a 15% increase in innovation and problem-solving efficiency
65% of life sciences firms see diversity as key to market competitiveness, yet only 20% have fully integrated it into their corporate strategy
Bias and lack of diversity training contribute to an estimated 15% loss in productivity in biotech teams
The gender pay gap in biotech industry is approximately 18%, favoring men, when comparing median wages
The life sciences industry employs approximately 750,000 people globally, yet only 15% are from underrepresented groups
Higher diversity within research teams correlates with increased publication output and citation impact, by about 12%, according to a study published in Research Policy
Over 60% of biotech firms do not have designated diversity and inclusion officers or teams, suggesting a lack of dedicated oversight
Majority of life sciences companies report barriers in diversifying their talent pipelines, including lack of outreach and unconscious bias
Training programs for unconscious bias have increased in life sciences firms by about 45% over the last 5 years, but their effectiveness varies widely
Only 35% of life sciences companies have specific diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals aligned with their business objectives, indicating room for strategic improvement
Female scientists are more likely to mentor colleagues but less likely to be promoted into senior leadership, highlighting a potential gender pipeline issue
There is a 15% gap in participation rates of minority groups in biotech internship programs compared to majority groups, limiting early career diversity
Companies with higher levels of ethnic diversity are 1.7 times more likely to develop innovative health solutions, according to Deloitte

Workforce Diversity and Representation Interpretation

Despite nearly half of life sciences organizations claiming diversity is a priority, only 20% have fully integrated strategies, revealing that the industry's commitment to inclusion remains more talk than walk—an imbalance that stifles innovation, perpetuates disparities, and leaves much room for scientific progress to reflect society’s true diversity.

Workplace Culture and Employee Experience

80% of life sciences companies have diversity and inclusion initiatives, but only 45% measure their progress
LGBT+ employees report lower levels of job satisfaction in life sciences industries, at about 20% less than their peers
40% of minority employees report experiencing bias or discrimination in the workplace
55% of women in biotech report experiences of gender bias, with many citing suppressed career advancement opportunities
Representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in biotech is under 10%, with many fearing a lack of acceptance in workplace culture
Companies with inclusive cultures report 22% higher employee engagement scores, which correlates to better productivity
70% of life sciences professionals believe diversity initiatives positively impact innovation, but only 40% see clear leadership commitment
Approximately 50% of underrepresented minorities in science jobs feel that the workplace is unaffordable or inaccessible, affecting retention
Employee resource groups (ERGs) for ethnic and gender minorities increase feelings of inclusivity by over 30%, according to internal studies
Industry surveys show that 75% of employees believe that more inclusive policies would improve overall morale and productivity, yet implementation remains inconsistent

Workplace Culture and Employee Experience Interpretation

Despite nearly 80% of life sciences companies adopting diversity initiatives, a troubling gap persists—only 45% measure progress; with 55% of women and 40% of minority employees facing bias, and LGBTQ+ representation below 10%, it’s clear that without genuine leadership commitment and inclusive cultures, innovation remains hindered and morale suffers amid persistent disparities.