GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Petroleum Industry Statistics

Petroleum industry embraces diversity, improving performance, retention, and innovation.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

companies with active diversity programs experience a 30% increase in employee retention

Statistic 2

workforce diversity initiatives have resulted in a 15% increase in innovation and problem-solving efficiency

Statistic 3

LGBT+ inclusion initiatives are present in 18% of energy companies globally

Statistic 4

companies with inclusive cultures see 22% higher employee satisfaction scores

Statistic 5

the retention rate for women in leadership roles in the energy sector is roughly 12% higher in companies with dedicated diversity programs

Statistic 6

38% of energy companies worldwide have implemented unconscious bias training programs

Statistic 7

60% of petroleum industry employees agree that their company is actively working to improve workplace diversity

Statistic 8

33% of energy industry companies host annual diversity and inclusion conferences or events

Statistic 9

45% of petroleum industry employees believe that mentorship programs are effective in promoting diversity

Statistic 10

routine diversity training in oil companies correlates with a 26% reduction in workplace conflicts related to bias

Statistic 11

approximately 65% of energy workers believe that diversity initiatives improve company reputation

Statistic 12

minority groups comprise about 27% of employees in the petroleum sector in North America

Statistic 13

in the Middle East, women represent roughly 10% of the oil and gas workforce

Statistic 14

African Americans hold approximately 8% of senior engineering roles in U.S. petroleum companies

Statistic 15

more than 40% of entry-level positions in petroleum are filled by recent graduates from diverse backgrounds

Statistic 16

25% of new hires in the petroleum industry are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups

Statistic 17

the percentage of women in technical roles in the petroleum industry globally is estimated at 13%

Statistic 18

in Asia-Pacific, the representation of women in the petroleum workforce is currently about 16%

Statistic 19

45% of minority employees in the petroleum industry have reported experiences of workplace bias

Statistic 20

in Latin America, women represent roughly 20% of the workforce in extraction and processing sectors

Statistic 21

U.S. minority women hold about 11% of senior leadership positions in the oil and gas industry

Statistic 22

in Europe, there is a 7% year-over-year increase in hiring of diverse candidates within the petroleum sector

Statistic 23

women in leadership roles earn approximately 78% of what their male counterparts earn in the energy sector

Statistic 24

only 14% of environmental, health, and safety leadership roles in the petroleum industry are held by women

Statistic 25

minority-owned companies in the energy supply chain account for roughly 14% of total contracts in North America

Statistic 26

the employment rate of women in offshore oil drilling is about 19%, with a goal to increase to 25% by 2025

Statistic 27

only 9% of executive positions in oil and gas companies are held by women

Statistic 28

22% of board members in top global oil companies are women

Statistic 29

the number of women on the boards of top petroleum companies increased by 4% from 2020 to 2022

Statistic 30

24% of energy sector board members are women, and this percentage is projected to increase by 6% annually

Statistic 31

nearly 60% of energy company CEOs recognize diversity as a strategic priority

Statistic 32

women make up approximately 15% of the global upstream oil and gas workforce

Statistic 33

companies with higher gender diversity are 21% more likely to outperform their peers financially

Statistic 34

35% of oil and gas executives say their companies lack effective diversity strategies

Statistic 35

indigenous peoples hold about 12% of positions in Canadian oil sands companies

Statistic 36

female leadership in the global petroleum industry remains at approximately 12%

Statistic 37

Latinx individuals comprise approximately 18% of the workforce in U.S. petrochemical companies

Statistic 38

in Nigeria, over 60% of petroleum industry employees are from ethnic groups indigenous to the region

Statistic 39

companies with strong diversity and inclusion metrics experience 35% greater revenue growth

Statistic 40

approximately 80% of petroleum companies report having diversity and inclusion policies

Statistic 41

women engineers comprise about 17% of the total engineering staff in upstream oil companies

Statistic 42

50% of young professionals in the energy sector consider diversity and inclusion a key factor in accepting a job offer

Statistic 43

5% of oil and gas companies have publicly reported diversity goals for 2025

Statistic 44

the percentage of indigenous workers in Australian petroleum companies is approximately 8%

Statistic 45

companies with flexible work policies in the energy sector see a 12% higher engagement level among minority employees

Statistic 46

in South Africa, gender diversity in the petroleum industry has increased by 5% over the last three years

Statistic 47

the representation of women in pipeline safety roles has increased by 10% in the past five years

Statistic 48

29% of new graduate hires in energy companies are from underrepresented ethnic groups

Slide 1 of 48

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

women make up approximately 15% of the global upstream oil and gas workforce
minority groups comprise about 27% of employees in the petroleum sector in North America
companies with higher gender diversity are 21% more likely to outperform their peers financially
in the Middle East, women represent roughly 10% of the oil and gas workforce
African Americans hold approximately 8% of senior engineering roles in U.S. petroleum companies
companies with active diversity programs experience a 30% increase in employee retention
35% of oil and gas executives say their companies lack effective diversity strategies
more than 40% of entry-level positions in petroleum are filled by recent graduates from diverse backgrounds
indigenous peoples hold about 12% of positions in Canadian oil sands companies
female leadership in the global petroleum industry remains at approximately 12%
25% of new hires in the petroleum industry are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups
only 9% of executive positions in oil and gas companies are held by women
Latinx individuals comprise approximately 18% of the workforce in U.S. petrochemical companies

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are transforming the petroleum industry, with recent statistics revealing both progress—such as a 4% rise in women on top corporate boards—and significant room for improvement, including underrepresentation of women and minorities in leadership roles despite the proven financial and innovative benefits of a more inclusive workforce.

Diversity Initiatives and Programs

companies with active diversity programs experience a 30% increase in employee retention
workforce diversity initiatives have resulted in a 15% increase in innovation and problem-solving efficiency
LGBT+ inclusion initiatives are present in 18% of energy companies globally
companies with inclusive cultures see 22% higher employee satisfaction scores
the retention rate for women in leadership roles in the energy sector is roughly 12% higher in companies with dedicated diversity programs
38% of energy companies worldwide have implemented unconscious bias training programs
60% of petroleum industry employees agree that their company is actively working to improve workplace diversity
33% of energy industry companies host annual diversity and inclusion conferences or events
45% of petroleum industry employees believe that mentorship programs are effective in promoting diversity
routine diversity training in oil companies correlates with a 26% reduction in workplace conflicts related to bias
approximately 65% of energy workers believe that diversity initiatives improve company reputation

Diversity Initiatives and Programs Interpretation

As the petroleum industry embraces diversity and inclusion, evidence shows that such efforts not only boost retention and innovation but also enhance company reputation and employee satisfaction—proving that in energy, a more inclusive culture is indeed a fuel for success.

Industry-Specific Gender and Minority Statistics

minority groups comprise about 27% of employees in the petroleum sector in North America
in the Middle East, women represent roughly 10% of the oil and gas workforce
African Americans hold approximately 8% of senior engineering roles in U.S. petroleum companies
more than 40% of entry-level positions in petroleum are filled by recent graduates from diverse backgrounds
25% of new hires in the petroleum industry are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups
the percentage of women in technical roles in the petroleum industry globally is estimated at 13%
in Asia-Pacific, the representation of women in the petroleum workforce is currently about 16%
45% of minority employees in the petroleum industry have reported experiences of workplace bias
in Latin America, women represent roughly 20% of the workforce in extraction and processing sectors
U.S. minority women hold about 11% of senior leadership positions in the oil and gas industry
in Europe, there is a 7% year-over-year increase in hiring of diverse candidates within the petroleum sector
women in leadership roles earn approximately 78% of what their male counterparts earn in the energy sector
only 14% of environmental, health, and safety leadership roles in the petroleum industry are held by women
minority-owned companies in the energy supply chain account for roughly 14% of total contracts in North America
the employment rate of women in offshore oil drilling is about 19%, with a goal to increase to 25% by 2025

Industry-Specific Gender and Minority Statistics Interpretation

While progress is being made in diversifying the petroleum industry—from increased minority hiring and rising female representation to targeted inclusion efforts—persistent gaps in leadership, pay equity, and workplace experiences remind us that there’s still a long drilling ahead before diversity truly fuels the sector's future.

Leadership and Board Composition

only 9% of executive positions in oil and gas companies are held by women
22% of board members in top global oil companies are women
the number of women on the boards of top petroleum companies increased by 4% from 2020 to 2022
24% of energy sector board members are women, and this percentage is projected to increase by 6% annually
nearly 60% of energy company CEOs recognize diversity as a strategic priority

Leadership and Board Composition Interpretation

Despite a modest uptick in female representation, with women comprising just 9% of executive roles and 22% of board members in top oil companies, nearly 60% of energy CEOs recognize diversity as a strategic priority, highlighting a slow but potentially significant shift toward gender inclusion in an industry often characterized by its oil-heavy traditions.

Workforce Demographics and Representation

women make up approximately 15% of the global upstream oil and gas workforce
companies with higher gender diversity are 21% more likely to outperform their peers financially
35% of oil and gas executives say their companies lack effective diversity strategies
indigenous peoples hold about 12% of positions in Canadian oil sands companies
female leadership in the global petroleum industry remains at approximately 12%
Latinx individuals comprise approximately 18% of the workforce in U.S. petrochemical companies
in Nigeria, over 60% of petroleum industry employees are from ethnic groups indigenous to the region
companies with strong diversity and inclusion metrics experience 35% greater revenue growth
approximately 80% of petroleum companies report having diversity and inclusion policies
women engineers comprise about 17% of the total engineering staff in upstream oil companies
50% of young professionals in the energy sector consider diversity and inclusion a key factor in accepting a job offer
5% of oil and gas companies have publicly reported diversity goals for 2025
the percentage of indigenous workers in Australian petroleum companies is approximately 8%
companies with flexible work policies in the energy sector see a 12% higher engagement level among minority employees
in South Africa, gender diversity in the petroleum industry has increased by 5% over the last three years
the representation of women in pipeline safety roles has increased by 10% in the past five years
29% of new graduate hires in energy companies are from underrepresented ethnic groups

Workforce Demographics and Representation Interpretation

Despite evidence that companies with higher diversity face a 21% boost in financial performance and greater employee engagement, the global petroleum industry still lags in equitable representation—highlighting that even in a sector famed for its black gold, the true riches may lie in cultivating a more inclusive workforce.