Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Mining Industry Statistics

Mining is moving from training slides to measurable inclusion, with 120 mining companies rolling out employee resource groups in 2023 and employee engagement climbing 12% at DEI active sites. At the same time, women held 15% of global executive roles in 2023, up from 10% in 2018, while representation for disability still sits at 1.8% across the sector. The result is a high tempo mix of progress and persistent gaps, reflected in procurement targets, scholarship funding, hiring quotas, and safety grants across regions.

Key Takeaways

Mining launched 150+ DEI training programs worldwide in 2023, with 75% focused on unconscious bias
Australia invested AUD 50M in mining scholarships for women and Indigenous in 2023
Canadian Mining Association's Indigenous procurement hit CAD 5B in 2022 contracts
Employee engagement scores rose 12% in DEI-active mining sites per 2023 surveys
68% of mining workers reported feeling included in 2023 global DEI survey
Turnover rates dropped 15% among diverse hires in Australian mines 2022-2023
Women in mining projected to reach 25% workforce by 2030 per ICMM forecast
Indigenous employment in mining expected to double to 10% in Australia by 2030
Global mining DEI spend forecasted at USD 2.5B annually by 2025
Women held 15% of executive positions in global mining companies in 2023, up from 10% in 2018
In Canada, Indigenous leaders were 3.2% of C-suite roles in mining in 2022
Black executives in South African mining firms reached 42% in 2023, per B-BBEE compliance data
In 2022, women represented only 17% of the total mining workforce globally, compared to 47% in the overall workforce across all industries
In Australia, female participation in the mining sector stood at 21% in 2023, up from 18% in 2019, reflecting slow progress in gender balance
Indigenous workers comprised 4.2% of the Canadian mining workforce in 2021, despite making up 5% of the national population

Mining boosted DEI worldwide in 2023, driving better inclusion, pay equity, and supplier diversity outcomes.

01 · Category

Equity Programs and Initiatives24 stats

Mining launched 150+ DEI training programs worldwide in 2023, with 75% focused on unconscious bias

Australia invested AUD 50M in mining scholarships for women and Indigenous in 2023

Canadian Mining Association's Indigenous procurement hit CAD 5B in 2022 contracts

South Africa's Mining Charter III mandated 30% BEE ownership equity transfers by 2023

40 US mining firms adopted pay equity audits in 2023, closing gaps by 2.5%

Global mining spent USD 1.2B on DEI in 2022, per Deloitte

Chile's women in mining mentorship paired 1,200 women with execs in 2023

Brazil's Vale launched 50 equity funds for diverse suppliers in 2023

65% of top miners had supplier diversity goals targeting 20% minority spend by 2025

Australia's 30% Club Mining Chapter grew to 25 companies mentoring 500 women in 2023

Peru mandated 15% women hiring quotas in new mine projects from 2023

US MSHA's DEI grants funded 20 safety training for diverse groups in 2022

In DRC, 10 major mines committed to local equity partnerships worth USD 300M in 2023

Ghana's Minerals Commission approved 40 women-owned mining ventures in 2023

Europe's Euromines launched cross-border DEI certification for 15 members in 2023

India Coal's reservation quotas filled 25% SC/ST positions in 2023 hires

Mexico's mining institute trained 2,000 Indigenous suppliers via equity program 2023

85 mining firms globally signed UN Women's Empowerment Principles by 2023

Australia's Indigenous Land Use Agreements covered 40% of new projects in 2022

Finland's Terrafame equity fund allocated EUR 10M for local hires in 2023

South Africa platinum firms achieved 70% compliance with equity targets in 2023

Global mining's flexible work policies adopted by 55% firms post-COVID for equity

Canada's Towards Sustainable Mining added DEI pillar audited at 80% sites 2023

120 mining cos launched employee resource groups (ERGs) for DEI in 2023

Interpretation

Equity Programs and Initiatives Interpretation

The global mining industry is finally excavating its own deep-seated inequities, proving that while it's tough to move mountains, it's even harder to shift paradigms, but the $1.2 billion spent on DEI, billions in procurement, and thousands of new pathways for women, Indigenous communities, and minorities show the gears of genuine, albeit belated, change are now grinding in earnest.

02 · Category

Inclusion Surveys and Metrics26 stats

Employee engagement scores rose 12% in DEI-active mining sites per 2023 surveys

68% of mining workers reported feeling included in 2023 global DEI survey

Turnover rates dropped 15% among diverse hires in Australian mines 2022-2023

Canadian Indigenous employee satisfaction: 82% in participating firms 2023

In South Africa, inclusion index for Black employees averaged 75/100 in 2023 audits

US mining DEI climate score: 4.2/5 from 10,000 respondents in 2023

Women reporting belonging in mining: 62% vs 78% industry average 2023

55% of LGBTQ+ miners felt safe disclosing identity in 2023 Out in Mining survey

Disability inclusion sentiment: 70% positive in 20 global miners 2023

Hispanic workers' promotion satisfaction: 68% in US mining 2023

Australia's mining inclusion score rose to 7.1/10 in 2023 employee NPS

76% of Chilean miners reported improved team cohesion post-DEI training 2023

Brazil mining ERG participation: 45% of diverse employees in 2023

Innovation output up 18% in inclusive mining teams per 2023 PwC study

Peru Indigenous inclusion rate: 65% feeling valued in 2023 surveys

Absenteeism fell 10% in high-inclusion US sites 2022-2023

Ghana gold mine belonging score for women: 58% in 2023

European mining psychological safety: 72% in 2023 Euromines poll

India's coal inclusion for reserved categories: 80% satisfaction 2023

Mexico mining diverse groups microaggression reports down 22% post-training 2023

Global mining Net Promoter Score for DEI: +25 in 2023 top firms

Retention of Indigenous talent: 85% in Canadian inclusive programs 2023

90% of DEI program firms saw productivity gains per 2023 metrics

Female miners' advocacy participation: 52% in 2023 global survey

Bias incident reporting up 30% with safe channels in 2023 mines

Overall DEI maturity score in mining: 3.8/5 globally 2023

Interpretation

Inclusion Surveys and Metrics Interpretation

The data loudly suggests that in the mining industry, the business case for DEI is no longer just theoretical gold—it's concrete, measurable, and being profitably extracted by those willing to do the work.

03 · Category

Industry Trends and Projections27 stats

Women in mining projected to reach 25% workforce by 2030 per ICMM forecast

Indigenous employment in mining expected to double to 10% in Australia by 2030

Global mining DEI spend forecasted at USD 2.5B annually by 2025

Female leadership to hit 30% in top miners by 2028, per PwC projection

ESG-linked financing to require 40% DEI metrics by 2030 in mining

Automation projected to boost diverse hiring by 35% in remote ops by 2027

Black ownership in SA mining to reach 35% by 2025 per Charter goals

US Hispanic mining workforce to grow 50% to 33% by 2032 BLS forecast

Canadian reconciliation targets 8% Indigenous execs by 2030

Chile women in mining to 25% by 2030 national plan

Global supplier diversity spend to triple to 30% by 2028

DEI regulatory mandates expected in 60% mining jurisdictions by 2027

Brazil diverse leadership to 40% by 2030 Vale targets

EU mining inclusion standards to cover 90% production by 2025

Asia-Pacific women hires up 40% projected by 2026 tech shift

Disability employment quotas in 20 countries by 2030 mining sector

Mexico Indigenous partnerships to 25% projects by 2028

Ghana local content to 50% workforce by 2025 Minerals Comm

Russia ethnic diversity in Arctic mining to 25% by 2030

India reserved category hires to 30% in mining by 2027

Global mining boards 40% diverse by 2030 investor pressure

Peru gender parity in entry roles by 2028 forecast

Africa mining women to 20% by 2030 African Union plan

US veteran integration programs to cover 80% firms by 2025

Neurodiversity hiring pilots to scale to 10% roles by 2030

Australia's FIFO reforms to enhance inclusion projected 2027 impact

Global DEI ROI in mining to average 3.5x by 2028 studies

Interpretation

Industry Trends and Projections Interpretation

The mining industry's future looks less like an old boys' club and more like a global, multi-faceted team where the actual treasure is unlocking human potential, as evidenced by targets from doubling Indigenous employment to mandating DEI in financing, because you can't just dig for resources without first tapping into your greatest one: people.

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04 · Category

Leadership Representation27 stats

Women held 15% of executive positions in global mining companies in 2023, up from 10% in 2018

In Canada, Indigenous leaders were 3.2% of C-suite roles in mining in 2022

Black executives in South African mining firms reached 42% in 2023, per B-BBEE compliance data

Female board members in ASX-listed miners averaged 28% in 2023

LGBTQ+ individuals in senior mining roles were 1.8% in US firms in 2023 surveys

In Australia, women CEOs in top 50 miners were 4% in 2023

Disabled persons in leadership: 2.1% globally in mining per 2022 ICMM audit

Hispanic executives in US mining were 8% of VPs in 2023

In Chile, female mine general managers were 11% in 2023

Indigenous board representation in Canadian mining: 5.4% in 2022

In Brazil, Afro-Brazilian directors in mining were 22% in 2023

Age 50+ in mining C-suites: 68% globally in 2023

Women VPs in Australian gold mining: 18% in 2022

In South Africa, Coloured and Indian executives: 12% combined in platinum sector 2023

US mining boards had 25% diverse gender/race in 2023 S&P 500 miners

In Peru, women in senior ops roles: 13% at 2023 large mines

Veteran leaders in US mining: 12% of execs in 2022

In DRC, local Congolese in top management: 28% in 2023 foreign-owned mines

Female CFOs in TSX mining: 9% in 2023

Asian leaders in Canadian mining: 7% of directors in 2022

In Mexico, Indigenous directors: 4.2% in 2023

Neurodiverse execs disclosed: 0.8% in global mining 2023 pilots

In Ghana, women GMs in gold mines: 7% in 2022

Russian mining oligarchs under 50: only 15% in 2023 state firms

Swedish mining boards: 35% women in 2023 LKAB/Boliden

In India, SC/ST leaders in coal: 18% in 2023

Pacific execs in Aus mining: 1.5% in 2022

Interpretation

Leadership Representation Interpretation

The mining industry is slowly chipping away at its monolithic leadership, but the landscape still reveals rich veins of untapped talent and glaring gaps where true equity has yet to be struck.

05 · Category

Workforce Demographics30 stats

In 2022, women represented only 17% of the total mining workforce globally, compared to 47% in the overall workforce across all industries

In Australia, female participation in the mining sector stood at 21% in 2023, up from 18% in 2019, reflecting slow progress in gender balance

Indigenous workers comprised 4.2% of the Canadian mining workforce in 2021, despite making up 5% of the national population

In South Africa, Black African employees accounted for 78% of the mining workforce in 2022, but only 45% in skilled positions

LGBTQ+ identification among mining employees was reported at 2.1% in a 2023 US survey, significantly lower than the national average of 7.1%

Persons with disabilities represented 1.8% of the global mining workforce in 2022, per ICMM data, versus 15% in the general population

In Chile, female engineers in mining firms were 14% of the technical workforce in 2023

Hispanic/Latino workers made up 22% of US mining employees in 2022, concentrated in surface mining operations

In 2023, visible minorities accounted for 28% of the Australian mining workforce, led by Asian (12%) and Indigenous (8%) groups

Age demographics in European mining showed 42% of workers over 50 in 2022, limiting diversity in younger cohorts

In Peru, women held 12.5% of operational roles in large-scale mining in 2023

Black workers were 65% of the DRC mining labor force in 2022 but only 30% in management tracks

In Brazil, female participation in iron ore mining reached 19% in 2023

Veterans comprised 8% of the US mining workforce in 2022, higher than national averages due to skills transfer

In Russia, ethnic minorities (non-Slavic) were 15% of mining workers in Siberia operations in 2023

Globally, STEM-qualified women in mining were 22% of technical roles in 2022

In India, women in coal mining informal sector were 40% but only 5% in formal mechanized mines in 2023

Pacific Islander representation in Australian mining was 2.3% in 2022

In Mexico, Indigenous women were 3% of the mining workforce despite 20% regional population share

Entry-level mining roles had 25% female hires in Canada in 2023, dropping to 10% at mid-level

In Ghana, women were 16% of artisanal mining workers but 8% in corporate gold mines in 2022

Asian employees were 18% of US tech-mining hybrid roles in 2023

In Sweden, immigrant workers (non-EU) comprised 12% of iron ore mining staff in 2022

Disability disclosure rates in UK mining were 4.5% in 2023

In Argentina, women in copper mining reached 20% in 2023 at large firms like Escondida Norte

African American women were 1.2% of US underground coal miners in 2022

In Mongolia, nomadic herder descendants were 35% of Oyu Tolgoi workforce in 2023

Female apprentices in Australian mining hit 28% enrollment in 2023 programs

In Finland, Sami Indigenous representation was 1.1% in northern mining in 2022

Globally, neurodiverse employees disclosed at 1.5% in mining firms adopting DEI in 2023

Interpretation

Workforce Demographics Interpretation

The mining industry's DEI data reveals a landscape so starkly uneven that it seems the sector is still prospecting for the most basic forms of diversity, while consistently striking out on equity and inclusion.

Reference

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APA

Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Mining Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-mining-industry-statistics

MLA

Margot Villeneuve. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Mining Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-mining-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Mining Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-mining-industry-statistics.