GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Peo Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts profits, inclusivity improves culture, yet adoption remains inadequate.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

78% of employees say inclusion is an important factor when applying for a job

Statistic 2

Companies with high levels of diversity are 45% more likely to report growth in market share

Statistic 3

42% of employees in the Peo industry believe that their companies could do more to improve equitable hiring practices

Statistic 4

The percentage of employees who feel they are treated fairly regardless of race or gender is only 52% in the Peo industry

Statistic 5

44% of organizations have implemented unconscious bias training in the past year

Statistic 6

60% of HR professionals see diversity and inclusion as a key driver for talent retention

Statistic 7

The growth of minority-owned Peo companies has increased by 22% over the last three years

Statistic 8

70% of managers believe their team needs more diversity training

Statistic 9

About 25% of Peo industry workers are part of underrepresented groups

Statistic 10

48% of employees report barriers to advancing their careers due to lack of diversity initiatives

Statistic 11

55% of industry professionals believe that diversity efforts directly improve company innovation

Statistic 12

63% of organizations recognize the importance of racial diversity for organizational success

Statistic 13

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are present in 58% of Peo companies

Statistic 14

40% of Peo industry new hires identify as belonging to a minority group

Statistic 15

Diversity-related complaints in the Peo industry have decreased by 12% over the past year

Statistic 16

67% of industry leaders believe that diversity and equity are fundamental to long-term growth

Statistic 17

Sponsorship programs aimed at underrepresented groups have increased participation by 34% within the Peo sector

Statistic 18

71% of millennials in the workforce value diversity initiatives more than salary increases

Statistic 19

The proportion of LGBTQ+ employees in the Peo industry is approximately 8%

Statistic 20

52% of companies in the Peo industry have set specific diversity goals for the next five years

Statistic 21

Only 22% of HR professionals feel confident in their ability to lead diversity initiatives effectively

Statistic 22

29% of Peo industry firms provide diversity and inclusion training tailored to different cultural backgrounds

Statistic 23

46% of industry respondents say that strong diversity policies reduce employee turnover

Statistic 24

About 15% of Peo industry employees are international or immigrant workers

Statistic 25

68% of companies believe that inclusive hiring practices lead to better business outcomes

Statistic 26

33% of industry leaders report that their DEI initiatives have directly increased profitability

Statistic 27

55% of Peo firms are implementing metrics to track diversity progress

Statistic 28

82% of employees believe that diversity makes their team more creative and innovative

Statistic 29

The number of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in the Peo industry has grown by 20% over the past three years

Statistic 30

47% of hiring managers actively seek candidates from underrepresented groups

Statistic 31

69% of Peo companies offer mentorship programs targeting minority employees

Statistic 32

34% of companies have reported increased employee engagement as a result of diversity initiatives

Statistic 33

60% of younger employees (Gen Z and Millennials) prioritize diversity and inclusion when selecting an employer

Statistic 34

41% of Peo firms have a dedicated DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) strategy

Statistic 35

78% of industry leaders agree that diversity initiatives should be an organizational priority

Statistic 36

Only 23% of Peo industry recruiters actively seek diverse candidates

Statistic 37

59% of employees say diversity and inclusion initiatives improve their job satisfaction

Statistic 38

66% of Peo industry organizations plan to increase their diversity recruitment efforts in the next year

Statistic 39

50% of Peo companies report difficulty in attracting diverse talent due to market perceptions

Statistic 40

38% of industry professionals cite lack of diversity training as a barrier to creating inclusive workplaces

Statistic 41

72% of employees feel that more diverse teams lead to better problem-solving

Statistic 42

69% of industry respondents believe that implementing flexible work arrangements improves diversity and inclusion

Statistic 43

55% of employees say their organizations are making progress toward diversity and equity goals

Statistic 44

41% of Peo industry firms say that diversity and inclusion efforts have led to improved customer satisfaction

Statistic 45

59% of industry executives see diversity as a key competitive advantage

Statistic 46

44% of industry members have implemented anti-discrimination policies to promote inclusive workplaces

Statistic 47

70% of recruiters believe diversity improves the company's ability to innovate

Statistic 48

62% of Peo HR managers say that their diversity initiatives have led to increased talent pipelines

Statistic 49

Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their peers financially

Statistic 50

Women hold 27% of executive and senior-level roles in the Peo industry

Statistic 51

65% of employees believe their company's leadership is actively committed to diversity and inclusion

Statistic 52

In the Peo industry, only 15% of firms have comprehensive diversity and inclusion policies

Statistic 53

30% of Peo firms have dedicated diversity and inclusion officers

Statistic 54

Only 19% of Peo industry executives believe their diversity efforts are highly effective

Statistic 55

The share of women in leadership roles within the Peo industry has increased by 12% over the last five years

Statistic 56

Only 18% of industry professionals believe diversity efforts are adequately funded

Statistic 57

45% of organizations have set specific diversity targets for leadership roles

Statistic 58

The participation of women in the Peo industry’s senior management has increased by 14% over the last five years

Statistic 59

Only 12% of Peo organizations have fully integrated DEI metrics into their overall business strategy

Statistic 60

The number of Peo companies led by women has increased by 18% over the past four years

Statistic 61

Only 28% of Peo industry professionals feel their workplace is sufficiently inclusive

Statistic 62

35% of minority employees in the Peo industry have faced discrimination or bias at work

Statistic 63

82% of respondents say diversity and inclusion programs positively influence company culture

Statistic 64

53% of employees say they would stay longer at companies with strong diversity and inclusion practices

Statistic 65

39% of organizations measure the success of their diversity programs through employee satisfaction surveys

Statistic 66

Less than half (44%) of Peo industry employees feel included at their workplace

Statistic 67

53% of employees report that their company’s diversity policies are visible and well-communicated

Statistic 68

58% of companies have experienced a positive reputation boost due to their diversity efforts

Statistic 69

36% of employees feel their voices are heard regarding diversity issues in the workplace

Statistic 70

80% of Peo companies have inclusion and diversity training programs

Statistic 71

66% of employees report that D&I initiatives help improve overall morale and teamwork

Statistic 72

54% of industry organizations have seen a decline in workplace harassment complaints following diversity training implementation

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Sources

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Key Highlights

Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their peers financially
78% of employees say inclusion is an important factor when applying for a job
Only 28% of Peo industry professionals feel their workplace is sufficiently inclusive
Companies with high levels of diversity are 45% more likely to report growth in market share
Women hold 27% of executive and senior-level roles in the Peo industry
35% of minority employees in the Peo industry have faced discrimination or bias at work
65% of employees believe their company's leadership is actively committed to diversity and inclusion
82% of respondents say diversity and inclusion programs positively influence company culture
In the Peo industry, only 15% of firms have comprehensive diversity and inclusion policies
42% of employees in the Peo industry believe that their companies could do more to improve equitable hiring practices
The percentage of employees who feel they are treated fairly regardless of race or gender is only 52% in the Peo industry
44% of organizations have implemented unconscious bias training in the past year
60% of HR professionals see diversity and inclusion as a key driver for talent retention

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are transforming the PEO industry—yet with only 28% of professionals feeling their workplaces are truly inclusive, a staggering 78% of employees say these efforts are crucial when considering employment, highlighting a powerful opportunity for organizations to unlock greater innovation, market growth, and employee satisfaction.

Diversity and Inclusion Impact

78% of employees say inclusion is an important factor when applying for a job
Companies with high levels of diversity are 45% more likely to report growth in market share
42% of employees in the Peo industry believe that their companies could do more to improve equitable hiring practices
The percentage of employees who feel they are treated fairly regardless of race or gender is only 52% in the Peo industry
44% of organizations have implemented unconscious bias training in the past year
60% of HR professionals see diversity and inclusion as a key driver for talent retention
The growth of minority-owned Peo companies has increased by 22% over the last three years
70% of managers believe their team needs more diversity training
About 25% of Peo industry workers are part of underrepresented groups
48% of employees report barriers to advancing their careers due to lack of diversity initiatives
55% of industry professionals believe that diversity efforts directly improve company innovation
63% of organizations recognize the importance of racial diversity for organizational success
Employee resource groups (ERGs) are present in 58% of Peo companies
40% of Peo industry new hires identify as belonging to a minority group
Diversity-related complaints in the Peo industry have decreased by 12% over the past year
67% of industry leaders believe that diversity and equity are fundamental to long-term growth
Sponsorship programs aimed at underrepresented groups have increased participation by 34% within the Peo sector
71% of millennials in the workforce value diversity initiatives more than salary increases
The proportion of LGBTQ+ employees in the Peo industry is approximately 8%
52% of companies in the Peo industry have set specific diversity goals for the next five years
Only 22% of HR professionals feel confident in their ability to lead diversity initiatives effectively
29% of Peo industry firms provide diversity and inclusion training tailored to different cultural backgrounds
46% of industry respondents say that strong diversity policies reduce employee turnover
About 15% of Peo industry employees are international or immigrant workers
68% of companies believe that inclusive hiring practices lead to better business outcomes
33% of industry leaders report that their DEI initiatives have directly increased profitability
55% of Peo firms are implementing metrics to track diversity progress
82% of employees believe that diversity makes their team more creative and innovative
The number of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in the Peo industry has grown by 20% over the past three years
47% of hiring managers actively seek candidates from underrepresented groups
69% of Peo companies offer mentorship programs targeting minority employees
34% of companies have reported increased employee engagement as a result of diversity initiatives
60% of younger employees (Gen Z and Millennials) prioritize diversity and inclusion when selecting an employer
41% of Peo firms have a dedicated DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) strategy
78% of industry leaders agree that diversity initiatives should be an organizational priority
Only 23% of Peo industry recruiters actively seek diverse candidates
59% of employees say diversity and inclusion initiatives improve their job satisfaction
66% of Peo industry organizations plan to increase their diversity recruitment efforts in the next year
50% of Peo companies report difficulty in attracting diverse talent due to market perceptions
38% of industry professionals cite lack of diversity training as a barrier to creating inclusive workplaces
72% of employees feel that more diverse teams lead to better problem-solving
69% of industry respondents believe that implementing flexible work arrangements improves diversity and inclusion
55% of employees say their organizations are making progress toward diversity and equity goals
41% of Peo industry firms say that diversity and inclusion efforts have led to improved customer satisfaction
59% of industry executives see diversity as a key competitive advantage
44% of industry members have implemented anti-discrimination policies to promote inclusive workplaces
70% of recruiters believe diversity improves the company's ability to innovate
62% of Peo HR managers say that their diversity initiatives have led to increased talent pipelines

Diversity and Inclusion Impact Interpretation

Despite recognizing that diversity fuels innovation and market growth, the Peo industry still battles with internal gaps—only half of employees feel fairly treated, less than a quarter of recruiters actively seek diverse candidates, and confidence in leading DEI strategies remains low—highlighting the urgent need to align ambitious metrics with meaningful action for genuine inclusion.

Leadership and Gender Representation

Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their peers financially
Women hold 27% of executive and senior-level roles in the Peo industry
65% of employees believe their company's leadership is actively committed to diversity and inclusion
In the Peo industry, only 15% of firms have comprehensive diversity and inclusion policies
30% of Peo firms have dedicated diversity and inclusion officers
Only 19% of Peo industry executives believe their diversity efforts are highly effective
The share of women in leadership roles within the Peo industry has increased by 12% over the last five years
Only 18% of industry professionals believe diversity efforts are adequately funded
45% of organizations have set specific diversity targets for leadership roles
The participation of women in the Peo industry’s senior management has increased by 14% over the last five years
Only 12% of Peo organizations have fully integrated DEI metrics into their overall business strategy
The number of Peo companies led by women has increased by 18% over the past four years

Leadership and Gender Representation Interpretation

Despite a promising 33% performance boost for companies with diverse leadership, the Peo industry’s ongoing underinvestment in comprehensive DEI policies and metrics reveals that while progress has been made—especially for women—the sector still has a long road ahead to truly embed equity and inclusion into its core business DNA.

Workplace Culture and Perceptions

Only 28% of Peo industry professionals feel their workplace is sufficiently inclusive
35% of minority employees in the Peo industry have faced discrimination or bias at work
82% of respondents say diversity and inclusion programs positively influence company culture
53% of employees say they would stay longer at companies with strong diversity and inclusion practices
39% of organizations measure the success of their diversity programs through employee satisfaction surveys
Less than half (44%) of Peo industry employees feel included at their workplace
53% of employees report that their company’s diversity policies are visible and well-communicated
58% of companies have experienced a positive reputation boost due to their diversity efforts
36% of employees feel their voices are heard regarding diversity issues in the workplace
80% of Peo companies have inclusion and diversity training programs
66% of employees report that D&I initiatives help improve overall morale and teamwork
54% of industry organizations have seen a decline in workplace harassment complaints following diversity training implementation

Workplace Culture and Perceptions Interpretation

Despite widespread acknowledgment of D&I's benefits, only a quarter of PEO professionals feel truly included, highlighting a stark gap between initiatives and lived experiences that can only be bridged by genuinely listening to and empowering minority voices.