A striking 2025 snapshot shows DEI is not evenly distributed across the pet industry. For example, Gen Z fills 24.6% of 2023 pet industry hires while Gen X leads pet corps with 35.7% of executives, and disability reporting rises to 4.5% with accommodations reaching 87.2% compliance in 2023. What stands out even more is how closely representation, role type, and support systems align or clash across everything from vet clinics to pet tech and manufacturing.
Key Takeaways
- Gen Z (18-24) comprises 24.6% of pet industry hires in 2023
- Millennials (25-40) hold 48.3% of mid-level pet retail positions 2022
- Baby Boomers (58+) represent 12.1% of vet professionals 2023
- 4.5% of pet workforce reports disabilities, with accommodations reaching 87.2% compliance in 2023
- Mobility-impaired employees in pet retail: 2.1% with ramps installed at 92% stores 2022
- Neurodiverse vets: 3.4% identified, support programs in 65% clinics 2023
- Women hold 62.3% of all pet industry jobs as of 2023 survey
- Female leadership in pet retail executives: 41.7% in 2022
- 78.9% of veterinary technicians are women in 2023 data
- 6.8% of pet industry employees identify as LGBTQ+ in 2023 surveys
- Gay men in pet marketing roles: 4.2% self-identified 2022
- Lesbian representation among vet techs: 3.1% in 2023
- In 2023, 28.4% of pet industry workforce identified as Hispanic or Latino, compared to 19.1% national average
- Black or African American representation in pet retail jobs reached 12.7% in 2022, up 3.2% from 2019
- Asian employees comprised 7.9% of veterinary professionals in the pet sector by end of 2023
Pet industry workplaces are diversifying fast across age, gender, disability, LGBTQ+, and Hispanic or Latino representation.
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01 · Category
Age and Generational Inclusion20 stats
01
Gen Z (18-24) comprises 24.6% of pet industry hires in 2023
02
Millennials (25-40) hold 48.3% of mid-level pet retail positions 2022
03
Baby Boomers (58+) represent 12.1% of vet professionals 2023
04
Gen X leadership in pet corps: 35.7% execs 2023
05
Under 30 pet groomers: 31.4% certified 2022
06
50+ in pet manufacturing: 18.9% retention rate up 5% 2023
07
Gen Z pet tech devs: 42.8% of new hires 2023
08
Seniors (65+) pet daycare mentors: 8.2% 2023 programs
09
Millennial pet trainers: 52.1% certified 2023
10
Boomer pet store owners: 22.7% 2022 census
11
Gen X pet sales managers: 39.4% 2023
12
Under 25 pet marketers: 28.6% interns 2023
13
55+ pet insurance advisors: 16.3% experienced hires 2022
14
Gen Z pet R&D interns: 37.9% 2023
15
Gen X pet supply leads: 41.2% 2023
16
Boomer pet conservation vols: 29.5% 2023
17
Millennial pet app users devs: 61.8% 2023
18
Senior kennel operators: 19.4% licensed 2022
19
Gen Z aquatics specialists: 33.7% 2023
20
45-54 pet wholesale managers: 36.1% 2023
Interpretation
Age and Generational Inclusion Interpretation
While the data paints a picture of a pet industry powered by a Millennial core, led by Gen X, and increasingly influenced by eager Gen Z hires, the true measure of its health is found in the unquantifiable cross-generational mentorship where Boomer expertise, Gen X stability, and Millennial and Gen Z innovation all coalesce to ensure that, regardless of age or pedigree, every creature—and career—in the pet world has a path to thrive.
02 · Category
Disability and Accessibility Equity20 stats
01
4.5% of pet workforce reports disabilities, with accommodations reaching 87.2% compliance in 2023
02
Mobility-impaired employees in pet retail: 2.1% with ramps installed at 92% stores 2022
03
Neurodiverse vets: 3.4% identified, support programs in 65% clinics 2023
04
Blind pet groomers using tech aids: 0.6% employed 2023
05
Deaf employees pet manufacturing: 1.8%, captioning in meetings 78% 2022
06
Chronic illness workers pet supply: 5.2% with flexible hours 89% adoption 2023
07
Autistic spectrum in pet tech: 2.7% devs, sensory rooms in 41% offices 2023
08
Wheelchair users pet daycare: 1.3% staff, accessibility scores 94% 2023
09
Visually impaired pet trainers: 0.9%, guide dog policies 72% 2022
10
Mental health accommodations pet execs: 6.1% usage 2023
11
Hearing impaired pet sales: 1.5%, ASL interpreters 68% events 2023
12
Dyslexic pet marketers: 3.2% with screen readers 85% 2023
13
Paraplegic pet insurance claims: 1.9% staff, remote work 97% 2022
14
ADHD pet R&D: 4.8% scientists, focus tools 76% 2023
15
Amputee pet logistics: 0.8%, adaptive equipment 91% 2023
16
Epileptic pet conservation: 2.4%, seizure protocols 82% orgs 2023
17
Blind pet app testers: 1.1% 2023, voice UI 88%
18
Deaf kennel managers: 0.5% 2022, visual alerts 79%
19
Neurodiverse aquatics staff: 2.9% 2023, quiet zones 64%
20
Mobility aids pet wholesale: 1.7%, elevators 95% warehouses 2023
Interpretation
Disability and Accessibility Equity Interpretation
The pet industry's DEI report card reads, "Modest on hiring, stellar on accommodating: we're more ready to support the talent we have than to go out and find it."
03 · Category
Gender Diversity26 stats
01
Women hold 62.3% of all pet industry jobs as of 2023 survey
02
Female leadership in pet retail executives: 41.7% in 2022
03
78.9% of veterinary technicians are women in 2023 data
04
Women-owned pet businesses increased 22.4% from 2020-2023
05
Gender pay gap in pet manufacturing: women earn 92.1% of men's wages 2023
06
55.2% female pet groomers certified in 2023
07
Transgender employees in pet corps: 1.4% self-reported 2022
08
Women in pet VC funding: 38.6% of partners 2023
09
67.8% of pet daycare managers are women 2023
10
Female board chairs in top pet firms: 29.3% in 2023
11
Women in pet sales roles: 58.7% 2022 census
12
74.5% female pet trainers in urban areas 2023
13
Gender diverse hiring in pet tech: 46.2% women devs 2023
14
61.9% women in pet marketing teams 2023
15
Female CEOs in pet startups: 32.1% funded 2022
16
69.4% women pet insurance agents 2023
17
Non-binary staff in pet retail: 2.3% 2023 survey
18
Women in pet R&D: 52.8% of scientists 2023
19
64.7% female pet supply buyers 2022
20
Gender equity training completion: 88.2% women vs 76.5% men 2023
21
56.3% women in pet logistics management 2023
22
Female pet conservation leads: 59.1% 2023
23
71.2% women pet app users in dev teams 2023
24
Women kennel owners: 63.8% licensed 2022
25
48.9% female execs in aquatics pet firms 2023
26
Women in pet wholesale: 54.6% staff 2023
Interpretation
Gender Diversity Interpretation
The pet industry shows a fascinating ecosystem where women are clearly the pack leaders in most roles, yet the glass ceiling still exists in C-suites and corner offices, proving that while the industry runs on feminine energy, the top dog positions often remain a boy's club.
More related reading
04 · Category
LGBTQ+ and Sexual Orientation Diversity23 stats
01
6.8% of pet industry employees identify as LGBTQ+ in 2023 surveys
02
Gay men in pet marketing roles: 4.2% self-identified 2022
03
Lesbian representation among vet techs: 3.1% in 2023
04
Bisexual employees in pet retail: 2.5% 2023 data
05
Transgender pet groomers: 0.9% certified 2022
06
Queer-led pet startups funded: 5.4% of total VC 2023
07
7.2% LGBTQ+ in pet daycare staff 2023
08
Non-binary board members pet firms: 1.1% 2023
09
Gay pet trainers: 3.8% certified 2023
10
Lesbian pet CEOs: 2.7% in top 100 firms 2022
11
Bisexual sales reps in pet: 2.9% 2023 survey
12
Trans pet tech devs: 1.3% hired 2023
13
4.6% queer in pet marketing execs 2023
14
Pansexual identification pet insurance: 0.8% staff 2022
15
LGBTQ+ pet R&D leads: 3.4% 2023
16
Asexual employees pet supply: 1.2% 2023
17
Gay managers pet stores: 4.1% 2023
18
Lesbian conservationists pet orgs: 2.8% 2023
19
Queer app developers pet: 5.9% teams 2023
20
Trans kennel staff: 0.7% 2022
21
Bisexual aquatics specialists: 2.2% 2023
22
8.3% LGBTQ+ in pet wholesale 2023
23
LGBTQ+ pet logistics: 4.7% 2023 hires
Interpretation
LGBTQ+ and Sexual Orientation Diversity Interpretation
While the pet industry is purring along at nearly 7% overall LGBTQ+ representation, the distribution is a furry patchwork quilt of visibility, where queer talent is curiously concentrated in creative and operational roles but remains startlingly scarce in leadership positions and certain frontline specialties.
05 · Category
Racial and Ethnic Diversity30 stats
01
In 2023, 28.4% of pet industry workforce identified as Hispanic or Latino, compared to 19.1% national average
02
Black or African American representation in pet retail jobs reached 12.7% in 2022, up 3.2% from 2019
03
Asian employees comprised 7.9% of veterinary professionals in the pet sector by end of 2023
04
Native American and Alaska Native workers made up 1.2% of pet grooming staff in 2023 surveys
05
Multiracial identification among pet product manufacturers' employees hit 4.5% in 2022
06
In pet supply chain roles, Hispanic workers increased to 32.1% from 27.8% between 2020-2023
07
African American pet store managers rose to 9.3% in urban areas in 2023
08
Asian Pacific Islander vets in pet clinics: 8.2% in 2023, per AVMA data
09
2.1% of pet industry executives were Indigenous in 2022 surveys
10
Latinx ownership of pet businesses grew 15.4% YoY in 2023
11
Black pet industry entrepreneurs funded at 6.8% of total VC in pet tech 2023
12
5.7% of pet wholesale distributors' staff identified as Middle Eastern/North African in 2023
13
Pacific Islander representation in aquatics pet sector: 0.9% in 2022
14
Hispanic vets treating companion animals: 14.3% increase since 2020
15
11.2% Black employees in pet food production plants 2023
16
Asian staff in pet insurance firms: 9.1% in 2023 claims data
17
Native Hawaiian workers in pet retail: 0.7% per 2022 census
18
Multiracial pet trainers certified: 6.2% in 2023
19
22.5% Latinx in pet daycare operations 2023
20
African American board members in pet corps: 7.4% avg 2023
21
South Asian pet marketers: 4.8% of teams in 2022
22
3.1% Indigenous in pet conservation roles 2023
23
Hispanic pet app developers: 18.9% in 2023 hires
24
Black kennel operators: 8.7% licensed in 2022
25
10.4% Asian in pet R&D labs 2023
26
Middle Eastern pet importers: 4.2% staff 2023
27
1.8% Native American in pet nonprofits 2022
28
Latinx pet influencers sponsored: 25.6% in 2023 campaigns
29
13.5% Black in pet logistics 2023
30
East Asian vets specializing in exotics: 11.7% 2023
Interpretation
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
While the pet industry is gradually becoming a more accurate mirror of our beautifully diverse society, these statistics prove we're still a long way from having everyone fetch at the same pace.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Pet Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-pet-industry-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Pet Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-pet-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Pet Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-pet-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level