GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Securities Industry Statistics

Diversity in securities industry improves performance, but underrepresentation persists significantly.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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65% of millennials in securities firms value workplace diversity and inclusion highly when deciding on employment

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80% of financial firms have initiated at least one DEI policy in the past year

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The percentage of leadership training programs focused on DEI increased by 40% in securities firms over the past two years

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45% of securities firms have implemented bias mitigation training for managers

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About 25% of securities firms participate in exchange programs aimed at increasing diversity

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Only 22% of firms have diversity dashboards publicly available, indicating transparency levels are low

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The number of mentorship programs targeting minority employees in finance increased by 30% over the past year

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58% of securities firms report that employee resource groups (ERGs) have improved DEI efforts

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Investors are increasingly considering ESG and DEI factors, with 60% stating they are a key part of investment decisions in 2023

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70% of firms have established specific DEI budgets for implementing initiatives in 2023, up from 50% in 2021

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Only 15% of securities firms have comprehensive DEI strategies aligned with their business goals, signaling room for improvement

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70% of employees in securities firms believe that DEI programs have a positive impact on corporate culture

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Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform less diverse competitors

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Approximately 52% of employees in securities firms believe that leadership is committed to promoting DEI, although some express skepticism about actual implementation

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55% of securities industry employees feel that their workplace actively promotes diversity, but only 35% see tangible advancement opportunities

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The median pay gap between men and women in securities underwriters is around 18%

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Women hold approximately 21% of executive roles in the securities industry as of 2023

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Minority representation among senior leadership in securities firms is around 15%

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Firms with higher gender diversity are 25% more likely to outperform on profitability

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As of 2022, only 10% of executives in securities are from underrepresented ethnic groups

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Approximately 45% of entry-level roles in the securities industry are filled by women

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Less than 5% of hedge fund managers are from minority backgrounds

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Female financial advisors make up about 25% of the profession in securities firms

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Only 8% of boards in securities firms are composed of ethnic or racial minorities

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Approximately 20% of securities industry interns come from minority backgrounds

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The retention rate for minority employees in the securities industry is approximately 65%, compared to 80% for majority groups

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60% of securities firms have set measurable DEI goals for 2024

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According to a 2023 survey, 50% of minority respondents reported experiencing bias or discrimination at work

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Only 12% of securities compliance officers are from minority backgrounds

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Women occupy approximately 28% of senior management roles across global securities markets

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In 2023, 35% of new hires in securities firms were women, up from 28% in 2020

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Ethnic minority groups comprise about 18% of entry-level securities industry employees

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The share of women in the trading roles within securities firms is roughly 20%

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Equity ownership among minority employees in securities firms remains below 20%, indicating barriers to economic inclusion

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48% of recent graduates from diverse backgrounds see a career in securities as an inclusive environment, compared to 62% from non-diverse backgrounds

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Overall, minority representation in the securities industry is estimated at around 16%

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40% of securities firms reported an increase in diversity-related complaints in 2023, highlighting ongoing challenges

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In a 2023 survey, 30% of minority employees have left their firms citing lack of advancement as a primary reason

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The proportion of openly LGBTQ+ employees in securities firms is approximately 5%, with varying levels of inclusion programs

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Women comprise about 33% of the workforce in securities sales and trading roles, indicating gender disparity in these functions

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The share of minorities occupying middle management roles increased by approximately 10% in 2023, showing slow progression

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Overall, 85% of securities industry firms acknowledge the importance of DEI for sustainable growth, but only 45% have fully integrated DEI metrics into their performance evaluations

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Key Highlights

Women hold approximately 21% of executive roles in the securities industry as of 2023
Minority representation among senior leadership in securities firms is around 15%
Firms with higher gender diversity are 25% more likely to outperform on profitability
As of 2022, only 10% of executives in securities are from underrepresented ethnic groups
Approximately 45% of entry-level roles in the securities industry are filled by women
65% of millennials in securities firms value workplace diversity and inclusion highly when deciding on employment
Less than 5% of hedge fund managers are from minority backgrounds
Female financial advisors make up about 25% of the profession in securities firms
Only 8% of boards in securities firms are composed of ethnic or racial minorities
70% of employees in securities firms believe that DEI programs have a positive impact on corporate culture
55% of securities industry employees feel that their workplace actively promotes diversity, but only 35% see tangible advancement opportunities
Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform less diverse competitors
Approximately 20% of securities industry interns come from minority backgrounds

Despite growing recognition of the vital role diversity, equity, and inclusion play in driving industry success, women and minorities remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles within the securities industry, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in building a truly inclusive financial landscape.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

65% of millennials in securities firms value workplace diversity and inclusion highly when deciding on employment
80% of financial firms have initiated at least one DEI policy in the past year
The percentage of leadership training programs focused on DEI increased by 40% in securities firms over the past two years
45% of securities firms have implemented bias mitigation training for managers
About 25% of securities firms participate in exchange programs aimed at increasing diversity
Only 22% of firms have diversity dashboards publicly available, indicating transparency levels are low
The number of mentorship programs targeting minority employees in finance increased by 30% over the past year
58% of securities firms report that employee resource groups (ERGs) have improved DEI efforts
Investors are increasingly considering ESG and DEI factors, with 60% stating they are a key part of investment decisions in 2023
70% of firms have established specific DEI budgets for implementing initiatives in 2023, up from 50% in 2021
Only 15% of securities firms have comprehensive DEI strategies aligned with their business goals, signaling room for improvement

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

While a growing majority of securities firms are investing in DEI initiatives—from leadership training to mentorship and targeted budgets—only a fraction embrace full transparency and strategic integration—highlighting a promising momentum that still needs to translate into holistic, accountable change.

Employee Engagement and Workplace Culture

70% of employees in securities firms believe that DEI programs have a positive impact on corporate culture

Employee Engagement and Workplace Culture Interpretation

With 70% of securities industry employees citing DEI initiatives as bolstering corporate culture, it's clear that fostering diversity and inclusion isn't just progressive—it's a smart investment in organizational integrity and success.

Leadership and Executive Roles

Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform less diverse competitors
Approximately 52% of employees in securities firms believe that leadership is committed to promoting DEI, although some express skepticism about actual implementation

Leadership and Executive Roles Interpretation

While over half of securities employees see leadership championing DEI, the 33% performance boost from diverse leadership suggests that true inclusion isn't just a feel-good mantra but a measurable strategic advantage—if it's genuinely implemented.

Pay Gap and Compensation Equity

55% of securities industry employees feel that their workplace actively promotes diversity, but only 35% see tangible advancement opportunities
The median pay gap between men and women in securities underwriters is around 18%

Pay Gap and Compensation Equity Interpretation

While a majority of securities industry employees believe diversity is valued, the stark realities of limited advancement and an 18% pay gap reveal that equity still has a long way to go in transforming perceptions into measurable progress.

Representation and Demographics

Women hold approximately 21% of executive roles in the securities industry as of 2023
Minority representation among senior leadership in securities firms is around 15%
Firms with higher gender diversity are 25% more likely to outperform on profitability
As of 2022, only 10% of executives in securities are from underrepresented ethnic groups
Approximately 45% of entry-level roles in the securities industry are filled by women
Less than 5% of hedge fund managers are from minority backgrounds
Female financial advisors make up about 25% of the profession in securities firms
Only 8% of boards in securities firms are composed of ethnic or racial minorities
Approximately 20% of securities industry interns come from minority backgrounds
The retention rate for minority employees in the securities industry is approximately 65%, compared to 80% for majority groups
60% of securities firms have set measurable DEI goals for 2024
According to a 2023 survey, 50% of minority respondents reported experiencing bias or discrimination at work
Only 12% of securities compliance officers are from minority backgrounds
Women occupy approximately 28% of senior management roles across global securities markets
In 2023, 35% of new hires in securities firms were women, up from 28% in 2020
Ethnic minority groups comprise about 18% of entry-level securities industry employees
The share of women in the trading roles within securities firms is roughly 20%
Equity ownership among minority employees in securities firms remains below 20%, indicating barriers to economic inclusion
48% of recent graduates from diverse backgrounds see a career in securities as an inclusive environment, compared to 62% from non-diverse backgrounds
Overall, minority representation in the securities industry is estimated at around 16%
40% of securities firms reported an increase in diversity-related complaints in 2023, highlighting ongoing challenges
In a 2023 survey, 30% of minority employees have left their firms citing lack of advancement as a primary reason
The proportion of openly LGBTQ+ employees in securities firms is approximately 5%, with varying levels of inclusion programs
Women comprise about 33% of the workforce in securities sales and trading roles, indicating gender disparity in these functions
The share of minorities occupying middle management roles increased by approximately 10% in 2023, showing slow progression
Overall, 85% of securities industry firms acknowledge the importance of DEI for sustainable growth, but only 45% have fully integrated DEI metrics into their performance evaluations

Representation and Demographics Interpretation

Despite ongoing efforts, women hold only about 21% of executive roles and minorities just around 16%, revealing that while nearly half of firms prioritize DEI for growth, critical gaps remain in representation and inclusion—highlighting that true diversity in securities isn’t just a metric to be acknowledged but a mandate for real change.