GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Steel Industry Statistics

Steel industry diversity improves innovation, retention, and workplace culture significantly.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Steel companies that have implemented D&I programs see a 20% increase in employee engagement

Statistic 2

70% of women in the steel industry report experiencing workplace bias or discrimination

Statistic 3

40% of minority employees in the steel industry believe their workplace diversity efforts are insufficient

Statistic 4

Steel industry companies with formal ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) reported a 15% improvement in employee satisfaction

Statistic 5

70% of employees believe that diversity and inclusion efforts improve company reputation

Statistic 6

22% of women in steel report experiencing microaggressions regularly at work

Statistic 7

Across global steel companies, 54% have reporting mechanisms for discrimination complaints

Statistic 8

33% of underrepresented employees in the steel industry feel they have equal growth opportunities

Statistic 9

52% of minority employees feel that their contributions are undervalued compared to their peers

Statistic 10

Companies actively promoting diversity have 30% higher employee satisfaction scores

Statistic 11

40% of minorities in the steel workforce report that onboarding processes rarely address inclusion

Statistic 12

In a 2023 survey, 29% of steel industry employees felt their company encourages open dialogue about diversity issues

Statistic 13

The gender pay gap in the steel industry is approximately 12%, favoring male employees

Statistic 14

10% of steel companies have an executive-level diversity officer

Statistic 15

Women in leadership roles within the steel industry have increased by 10% over the past three years

Statistic 16

65% of steel companies report having diversity and inclusion policies in place

Statistic 17

78% of steel industry HR leaders agree that diversity training should be mandatory

Statistic 18

65% of workers believe that more inclusive policies would reduce workplace harassment

Statistic 19

Only 25% of steel firms have dedicated budgets for D&I initiatives

Statistic 20

38% of steel industry firms offer flexible working arrangements to promote equity

Statistic 21

72% of stakeholders believe that DEI efforts influence corporate social responsibility ratings

Statistic 22

55% of steel industry HR professionals are planning to increase investment in D&I programs in the next year

Statistic 23

Women represent approximately 15-20% of the steel industry's workforce globally

Statistic 24

In North America, women make up about 18% of the steel industry's workforce

Statistic 25

Minority groups constitute roughly 25% of the steel industry's workforce in the United States

Statistic 26

Only 12% of executives in the steel industry are women

Statistic 27

Companies with more diverse leadership are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry medians

Statistic 28

45% of new hires in the steel industry are from underrepresented groups

Statistic 29

The retention rate for female employees in the steel industry is approximately 78%, compared to 85% for male employees

Statistic 30

30% of steel industry employees believe that their company actively promotes diversity and inclusion

Statistic 31

22% of leadership training programs in the steel industry are targeted specifically towards underrepresented groups

Statistic 32

60% of steel industry HR managers believe that increasing diversity will benefit innovation

Statistic 33

Only 10% of steel industry board members are women

Statistic 34

In data from 2022, 68% of steel companies reported diversity as a key factor in attracting talent

Statistic 35

55% of recent graduates identify diversity and inclusion efforts as a factor in employment decisions within the steel sector

Statistic 36

Only 20% of steel industry mentorship programs are specifically aimed at women or minorities

Statistic 37

50% of steel industry employees feel that leadership needs to do more to promote diversity

Statistic 38

Companies with diverse workforces saw a 25% reduction in workplace conflicts

Statistic 39

58% of steel industry HR professionals believe inclusive culture improves overall productivity

Statistic 40

The participation rate of minority women in technical roles in the steel industry is approximately 8%

Statistic 41

35% of employee training programs focus on cultural competency and unconscious bias

Statistic 42

60% of steel industry firms have set diversity and inclusion goals for the next five years

Statistic 43

15% growth has been observed in diverse candidate applications after D&I initiatives were introduced

Statistic 44

80% of steel companies that have diversity initiatives report positive cultural changes

Statistic 45

The percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) employees in the steel industry is around 12%

Statistic 46

48% of millennials in the steel industry view diversity as essential for workplace success

Statistic 47

The representation of LGBTQ+ employees in the steel industry is estimated at 3-4%

Statistic 48

25% of steel companies recognize unconscious bias as a barrier to diversity

Statistic 49

The average tenure for diverse employees in the steel industry is 7.5 years, compared to 9 years for non-diverse employees

Statistic 50

45% of employees from underrepresented backgrounds have left the industry due to lack of career advancement

Statistic 51

20% of steel the industry’s leadership development programs are tailored for underrepresented groups

Statistic 52

85% of companies agree that improving diversity and inclusion can enhance innovation

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Key Highlights

Women represent approximately 15-20% of the steel industry's workforce globally
In North America, women make up about 18% of the steel industry's workforce
Minority groups constitute roughly 25% of the steel industry's workforce in the United States
Only 12% of executives in the steel industry are women
Companies with more diverse leadership are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry medians
45% of new hires in the steel industry are from underrepresented groups
The retention rate for female employees in the steel industry is approximately 78%, compared to 85% for male employees
65% of steel companies report having diversity and inclusion policies in place
30% of steel industry employees believe that their company actively promotes diversity and inclusion
Steel companies that have implemented D&I programs see a 20% increase in employee engagement
70% of women in the steel industry report experiencing workplace bias or discrimination
22% of leadership training programs in the steel industry are targeted specifically towards underrepresented groups
The gender pay gap in the steel industry is approximately 12%, favoring male employees

Despite making up just 15-20% of the global steel workforce, efforts to boost diversity, equity, and inclusion are proving vital, as companies with diverse leadership see a 35% higher chance of outperforming industry averages and facing compelling challenges like workplace bias and gender disparities.

Employee Experiences and Perceptions

Steel companies that have implemented D&I programs see a 20% increase in employee engagement
70% of women in the steel industry report experiencing workplace bias or discrimination
40% of minority employees in the steel industry believe their workplace diversity efforts are insufficient
Steel industry companies with formal ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) reported a 15% improvement in employee satisfaction
70% of employees believe that diversity and inclusion efforts improve company reputation
22% of women in steel report experiencing microaggressions regularly at work
Across global steel companies, 54% have reporting mechanisms for discrimination complaints
33% of underrepresented employees in the steel industry feel they have equal growth opportunities
52% of minority employees feel that their contributions are undervalued compared to their peers
Companies actively promoting diversity have 30% higher employee satisfaction scores
40% of minorities in the steel workforce report that onboarding processes rarely address inclusion
In a 2023 survey, 29% of steel industry employees felt their company encourages open dialogue about diversity issues

Employee Experiences and Perceptions Interpretation

While steel companies that embrace diversity and inclusion see a tangible boost in employee engagement and satisfaction, the persistent reports of bias, microaggressions, and perceived inequalities reveal that the industry still has a "solid" way to go before truly forging an equitable workplace—proof that even in a field built on strength, emotional resilience remains essential.

Industry Trends and Impact Metrics

The gender pay gap in the steel industry is approximately 12%, favoring male employees

Industry Trends and Impact Metrics Interpretation

Despite efforts to forge a more inclusive future, the steel industry's 12% gender pay gap reminds us that gender equality still needs to be hammered out in the steelworks.

Leadership and Advancement Opportunities

10% of steel companies have an executive-level diversity officer
Women in leadership roles within the steel industry have increased by 10% over the past three years

Leadership and Advancement Opportunities Interpretation

Despite only 10% of steel companies appointing an executive-level diversity officer, the steel industry's modest 10% rise in women leadership over three years signals that progress may still be forging ahead—albeit with some unexpected sparks from within.

Organizational Policies and Initiatives

65% of steel companies report having diversity and inclusion policies in place
78% of steel industry HR leaders agree that diversity training should be mandatory
65% of workers believe that more inclusive policies would reduce workplace harassment
Only 25% of steel firms have dedicated budgets for D&I initiatives
38% of steel industry firms offer flexible working arrangements to promote equity
72% of stakeholders believe that DEI efforts influence corporate social responsibility ratings
55% of steel industry HR professionals are planning to increase investment in D&I programs in the next year

Organizational Policies and Initiatives Interpretation

While a growing number of steel companies are adopting diversity and inclusion policies and recognizing their impact on social responsibility, the fact that only a quarter allocate dedicated budgets suggests that many are still forging steel in the fire of good intentions rather than concrete investment.

Workforce Diversity and Representation

Women represent approximately 15-20% of the steel industry's workforce globally
In North America, women make up about 18% of the steel industry's workforce
Minority groups constitute roughly 25% of the steel industry's workforce in the United States
Only 12% of executives in the steel industry are women
Companies with more diverse leadership are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry medians
45% of new hires in the steel industry are from underrepresented groups
The retention rate for female employees in the steel industry is approximately 78%, compared to 85% for male employees
30% of steel industry employees believe that their company actively promotes diversity and inclusion
22% of leadership training programs in the steel industry are targeted specifically towards underrepresented groups
60% of steel industry HR managers believe that increasing diversity will benefit innovation
Only 10% of steel industry board members are women
In data from 2022, 68% of steel companies reported diversity as a key factor in attracting talent
55% of recent graduates identify diversity and inclusion efforts as a factor in employment decisions within the steel sector
Only 20% of steel industry mentorship programs are specifically aimed at women or minorities
50% of steel industry employees feel that leadership needs to do more to promote diversity
Companies with diverse workforces saw a 25% reduction in workplace conflicts
58% of steel industry HR professionals believe inclusive culture improves overall productivity
The participation rate of minority women in technical roles in the steel industry is approximately 8%
35% of employee training programs focus on cultural competency and unconscious bias
60% of steel industry firms have set diversity and inclusion goals for the next five years
15% growth has been observed in diverse candidate applications after D&I initiatives were introduced
80% of steel companies that have diversity initiatives report positive cultural changes
The percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) employees in the steel industry is around 12%
48% of millennials in the steel industry view diversity as essential for workplace success
The representation of LGBTQ+ employees in the steel industry is estimated at 3-4%
25% of steel companies recognize unconscious bias as a barrier to diversity
The average tenure for diverse employees in the steel industry is 7.5 years, compared to 9 years for non-diverse employees
45% of employees from underrepresented backgrounds have left the industry due to lack of career advancement
20% of steel the industry’s leadership development programs are tailored for underrepresented groups
85% of companies agree that improving diversity and inclusion can enhance innovation

Workforce Diversity and Representation Interpretation

Despite a growing recognition that diversity fuels innovation in the steel industry, women and minorities remain underrepresented at all levels—highlighting that progress still needs to be forged from the melting pot of commitment to inclusion.