GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Oil Industry Statistics

Diversity and inclusion efforts improve performance, retention, innovation, and reputation.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The percentage of companies including D&I goals in executive compensation metrics is currently at 18%, rising steadily

Statistic 2

The percentage of women in senior leadership roles within oil companies is around 12%

Statistic 3

40% of entry-level positions in oil and gas are held by women, but only 15% reach managerial roles

Statistic 4

The gender pay gap in the oil industry is approximately 12%, slightly higher than the average across industries

Statistic 5

Only 8% of board members in global oil corporations are women

Statistic 6

Companies with diverse senior management teams are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors

Statistic 7

Asia-Pacific oil companies report only 10% female Board representation, significantly below global averages

Statistic 8

32% of oil and gas workers in Africa are women, but only 14% hold managerial roles

Statistic 9

Oil companies with high levels of gender diversity are 29% more likely to report higher financial performance

Statistic 10

Oil and gas sector's leadership diversity scores lag behind those of other energy sectors, with only 10% women in leadership roles

Statistic 11

Women in leadership roles in the oil industry earn on average 10% less than their male counterparts, despite similar qualifications

Statistic 12

Despite progress, only 5% of oil industry CEOs worldwide are women

Statistic 13

Women make up approximately 22% of the global oil and gas workforce

Statistic 14

Ethnic minorities constitute approximately 25% of the workforce in the North American oil industry

Statistic 15

In Australia, Indigenous peoples hold about 5% of the workforce in the oil and gas sector

Statistic 16

In the Middle East, women comprise less than 10% of the oil industry workforce

Statistic 17

Only 4% of leadership roles in the oil industry are held by individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds

Statistic 18

The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the oil industry is estimated at around 2%

Statistic 19

The rate of female participation in STEM fields relevant to oil and gas is around 28%, impacting workforce diversity

Statistic 20

65% of oil companies have implemented targeted recruitment initiatives to improve minority representation

Statistic 21

In the U.S., oil and gas workers aged 18-35 are 40% more likely to identify as part of a minority group compared to older cohorts

Statistic 22

Approximately 18% of engineers in the global oil industry are women, indicating a gender gap in technical roles

Statistic 23

Oil industry tailings and infrastructure projects are increasingly evaluated for social impacts concerning indigenous and local community inclusion

Statistic 24

27% of the workforce in the Middle East oil industry are women, with many companies implementing targeted inclusion programs

Statistic 25

The number of women in technical roles in the oil industry has increased by 20% over the past five years

Statistic 26

Minority-owned businesses are awarded approximately 12% of oil and gas procurement contracts

Statistic 27

48% of new hires in the oil industry in 2023 were from underrepresented groups, indicating a focus on diversity hiring

Statistic 28

35% of oil and gas companies have established diversity and inclusion (D&I) policies

Statistic 29

Oil and gas companies with strong D&I policies report 15% higher employee retention rates

Statistic 30

30% of companies in the oil sector report implementing unconscious bias training programs

Statistic 31

Oil industry firms investing in D&I initiatives increased by 25% in the past five years

Statistic 32

60% of young professionals in the oil sector believe that diversity is a key factor in their company's success

Statistic 33

47% of oil industry executives agree that diversity policies have a positive impact on innovation

Statistic 34

The global oil and gas sector is projected to increase diversity training budgets by 20% in the next year

Statistic 35

45% of minority employees leave their roles within two years due to lack of equitable development opportunities

Statistic 36

23% of oil companies have established employee resource groups (ERGs) focused on diversity inclusion

Statistic 37

Indigenous employment programs in the oil industry across Canada have resulted in a 12% increase in Indigenous workforce participation over five years

Statistic 38

72% of HR managers in the oil industry acknowledge a lack of sufficient diversity-focused recruitment efforts

Statistic 39

The oil industry’s sustainability reports increasingly include metrics on diversity and equity initiatives, up 50% from five years ago

Statistic 40

85% of oil companies have diversity and inclusion as part of their core corporate values

Statistic 41

Only 7% of executive training programs in the oil industry specifically address equity and inclusion

Statistic 42

Companies with comprehensive D&I strategies report 20% higher employee engagement levels

Statistic 43

38% of the oil industry’s workforce are Millennials and Gen Z, highlighting generational diversity

Statistic 44

70% of oil companies have a formal D&I policy, but only 25% actively track progress through metrics and reports

Statistic 45

A survey shows 55% of minority employees feel their environment does not support their career advancement

Statistic 46

D&I training programs in the oil industry tend to have an 80% completion rate among participants, compared to 60% in other sectors

Statistic 47

45% of oil and gas companies report that improving diversity has led to better stakeholder engagement

Statistic 48

62% of companies in the sector plan to increase diversity recruitment efforts over the next two years

Statistic 49

An increasing number of oil companies now publish annual D&I progress reports, with 65% reporting publicly in 2023, up from 40% in 2018

Statistic 50

50% of minority employees have identified mentors or sponsors within their organizations as beneficial for advancement

Statistic 51

Higher levels of ethnic and gender diversity are associated with a 12% increase in innovative project ideas in oil companies

Statistic 52

Companies based in regions with strong legal frameworks for anti-discrimination report 30% higher D&I scores

Statistic 53

Awareness campaigns about diversity issues in the oil industry increased engagement on social media channels by 45% in 2022

Statistic 54

55% of oil companies report that D&I initiatives have improved their corporate reputation among investors

Statistic 55

Around 72% of companies have Diversity and Inclusion training programs in place, but only 15% measure their effectiveness regularly

Statistic 56

D&I initiatives led by employee resource groups are correlated with a 25% higher job satisfaction among minority employees

Statistic 57

20% of oil industry executives believe that D&I initiatives are undervalued compared to other operational priorities

Statistic 58

38% of oil companies have dedicated D&I officers or teams, a rise of 10% over the past three years

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 22% of the global oil and gas workforce
The percentage of women in senior leadership roles within oil companies is around 12%
35% of oil and gas companies have established diversity and inclusion (D&I) policies
Ethnic minorities constitute approximately 25% of the workforce in the North American oil industry
40% of entry-level positions in oil and gas are held by women, but only 15% reach managerial roles
In Australia, Indigenous peoples hold about 5% of the workforce in the oil and gas sector
The gender pay gap in the oil industry is approximately 12%, slightly higher than the average across industries
Only 8% of board members in global oil corporations are women
Oil and gas companies with strong D&I policies report 15% higher employee retention rates
In the Middle East, women comprise less than 10% of the oil industry workforce
30% of companies in the oil sector report implementing unconscious bias training programs
Only 4% of leadership roles in the oil industry are held by individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds
The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the oil industry is estimated at around 2%

Despite ongoing progress, the oil industry still faces significant challenges in achieving true diversity, equity, and inclusion, with women and ethnic minorities underrepresented in leadership roles and pay gaps persisting, even as companies recognize D&I as a vital driver of innovation and financial performance.

Enterprise Policies, Programs, and Strategic Commitments

The percentage of companies including D&I goals in executive compensation metrics is currently at 18%, rising steadily

Enterprise Policies, Programs, and Strategic Commitments Interpretation

While only 18% of oil companies now weave Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals into executive paychecks—a modest start—its steady rise signals a slowly shifting tide toward a more equitable industry landscape.

Leadership Diversity and Gender Gap

The percentage of women in senior leadership roles within oil companies is around 12%
40% of entry-level positions in oil and gas are held by women, but only 15% reach managerial roles
The gender pay gap in the oil industry is approximately 12%, slightly higher than the average across industries
Only 8% of board members in global oil corporations are women
Companies with diverse senior management teams are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors
Asia-Pacific oil companies report only 10% female Board representation, significantly below global averages
32% of oil and gas workers in Africa are women, but only 14% hold managerial roles
Oil companies with high levels of gender diversity are 29% more likely to report higher financial performance
Oil and gas sector's leadership diversity scores lag behind those of other energy sectors, with only 10% women in leadership roles
Women in leadership roles in the oil industry earn on average 10% less than their male counterparts, despite similar qualifications
Despite progress, only 5% of oil industry CEOs worldwide are women

Leadership Diversity and Gender Gap Interpretation

Despite women constituting a growing 40% of entry-level positions in oil and gas, glaring gender disparities persist from boardrooms to executive suites, where their representation remains a scant 12%, earnings lag behind by 10%, and leadership at the highest level is a mere 5%, highlighting that diversity’s promise still awaits full realization in the industry’s oil-slicked hierarchy.

Representation of Minority and Underrepresented Groups

Women make up approximately 22% of the global oil and gas workforce
Ethnic minorities constitute approximately 25% of the workforce in the North American oil industry
In Australia, Indigenous peoples hold about 5% of the workforce in the oil and gas sector
In the Middle East, women comprise less than 10% of the oil industry workforce
Only 4% of leadership roles in the oil industry are held by individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds
The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the oil industry is estimated at around 2%
The rate of female participation in STEM fields relevant to oil and gas is around 28%, impacting workforce diversity
65% of oil companies have implemented targeted recruitment initiatives to improve minority representation
In the U.S., oil and gas workers aged 18-35 are 40% more likely to identify as part of a minority group compared to older cohorts
Approximately 18% of engineers in the global oil industry are women, indicating a gender gap in technical roles
Oil industry tailings and infrastructure projects are increasingly evaluated for social impacts concerning indigenous and local community inclusion
27% of the workforce in the Middle East oil industry are women, with many companies implementing targeted inclusion programs
The number of women in technical roles in the oil industry has increased by 20% over the past five years
Minority-owned businesses are awarded approximately 12% of oil and gas procurement contracts
48% of new hires in the oil industry in 2023 were from underrepresented groups, indicating a focus on diversity hiring

Representation of Minority and Underrepresented Groups Interpretation

Despite a growing commitment with 48% of 2023 hires from underrepresented groups and a 20% increase in women in technical roles over five years, the oil industry’s workforce remains predominantly male, ethnically skewed, and lacking in Indigenous and LGBTQ+ representation—highlighting that true diversity and inclusion in this sector are still very much a work in progress.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

35% of oil and gas companies have established diversity and inclusion (D&I) policies
Oil and gas companies with strong D&I policies report 15% higher employee retention rates
30% of companies in the oil sector report implementing unconscious bias training programs
Oil industry firms investing in D&I initiatives increased by 25% in the past five years
60% of young professionals in the oil sector believe that diversity is a key factor in their company's success
47% of oil industry executives agree that diversity policies have a positive impact on innovation
The global oil and gas sector is projected to increase diversity training budgets by 20% in the next year
45% of minority employees leave their roles within two years due to lack of equitable development opportunities
23% of oil companies have established employee resource groups (ERGs) focused on diversity inclusion
Indigenous employment programs in the oil industry across Canada have resulted in a 12% increase in Indigenous workforce participation over five years
72% of HR managers in the oil industry acknowledge a lack of sufficient diversity-focused recruitment efforts
The oil industry’s sustainability reports increasingly include metrics on diversity and equity initiatives, up 50% from five years ago
85% of oil companies have diversity and inclusion as part of their core corporate values
Only 7% of executive training programs in the oil industry specifically address equity and inclusion
Companies with comprehensive D&I strategies report 20% higher employee engagement levels
38% of the oil industry’s workforce are Millennials and Gen Z, highlighting generational diversity
70% of oil companies have a formal D&I policy, but only 25% actively track progress through metrics and reports
A survey shows 55% of minority employees feel their environment does not support their career advancement
D&I training programs in the oil industry tend to have an 80% completion rate among participants, compared to 60% in other sectors
45% of oil and gas companies report that improving diversity has led to better stakeholder engagement
62% of companies in the sector plan to increase diversity recruitment efforts over the next two years
An increasing number of oil companies now publish annual D&I progress reports, with 65% reporting publicly in 2023, up from 40% in 2018
50% of minority employees have identified mentors or sponsors within their organizations as beneficial for advancement
Higher levels of ethnic and gender diversity are associated with a 12% increase in innovative project ideas in oil companies
Companies based in regions with strong legal frameworks for anti-discrimination report 30% higher D&I scores
Awareness campaigns about diversity issues in the oil industry increased engagement on social media channels by 45% in 2022
55% of oil companies report that D&I initiatives have improved their corporate reputation among investors
Around 72% of companies have Diversity and Inclusion training programs in place, but only 15% measure their effectiveness regularly
D&I initiatives led by employee resource groups are correlated with a 25% higher job satisfaction among minority employees
20% of oil industry executives believe that D&I initiatives are undervalued compared to other operational priorities
38% of oil companies have dedicated D&I officers or teams, a rise of 10% over the past three years

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

While 70% of oil companies claim to have a formal diversity and inclusion policy, a mere 25% actively measure progress, revealing that in the industry where innovation is vital, many are still steering without a clear GPS on their D&I journey.