GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Supply Chain Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts supply chain innovation, performance, and long-term growth strategies.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Supplier diversity programs increase procurement cost efficiency by 15% on average.

Statistic 2

29% of supply chain firms report that their DEI efforts have led to measurable cost reductions.

Statistic 3

Companies with diverse supply chain leaders are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially.

Statistic 4

Women hold only 21% of executive positions in supply chain management roles worldwide.

Statistic 5

62% of supply chain firms have implemented DEI training programs in the past year.

Statistic 6

Companies with diverse supplier bases report up to 20% higher revenue growth.

Statistic 7

53% of supply chain companies track and publish diversity metrics.

Statistic 8

45% of supply chain executives see a lack of diversity as a barrier to innovation.

Statistic 9

Only 18% of supply chain companies have a comprehensive DEI strategy.

Statistic 10

Women-led supply chain businesses are 2.3 times more likely to report financial growth.

Statistic 11

60% of minority-owned suppliers face funding challenges that hinder growth.

Statistic 12

25% of supply chain companies have no formal DEI metrics for supplier onboarding.

Statistic 13

41% of minority-owned suppliers report increased business opportunities due to inclusion initiatives.

Statistic 14

Women in supply chain management are 40% more likely to move into leadership roles if they are part of DEI programs.

Statistic 15

63% of supply chain employees say they want more diversity in leadership.

Statistic 16

72% of supply chain firms are actively recruiting diverse candidates for leadership roles.

Statistic 17

29% of supply chain professionals believe unconscious bias affects supplier selection.

Statistic 18

48% of supply chain organizations report improved problem-solving and decision-making due to diversity.

Statistic 19

55% of minority supply chain leaders cite mentorship programs as essential for DEI success.

Statistic 20

70% of millennials in supply chain prefer to work at inclusive organizations.

Statistic 21

65% of supply chain management firms have set specific DEI goals for the next five years.

Statistic 22

72% of minority suppliers report that inclusion initiatives lead to increased business opportunities.

Statistic 23

26% of supply chain organizations lack senior management accountability for diversity efforts.

Statistic 24

33% of supply chain organizations have experienced increased innovation due to diversity-focused teams.

Statistic 25

58% of minority-owned suppliers have received capacity-building support from their corporate partners.

Statistic 26

84% of supply chain diversity initiatives are aimed at increasing supplier diversity.

Statistic 27

51% of future supply chain jobs are expected to require DEI-related skills.

Statistic 28

39% of supply chain managers state they need more training on DEI topics.

Statistic 29

53% of women in supply chain report facing challenges in career advancement.

Statistic 30

81% of supply chain professionals agree that diverse teams are more innovative.

Statistic 31

34% of supply chain companies have experienced legal or reputational risks due to lack of diversity.

Statistic 32

59% of suppliers participating in DEI programs report higher satisfaction levels among minority workers.

Statistic 33

66% of Gen Z supply chain professionals prioritize working for inclusive organizations.

Statistic 34

48% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in supply chain actively pursue DEI accreditation.

Statistic 35

47% of supply chain executives agree that increasing diversity enhances innovation.

Statistic 36

78% of organizations recognize the importance of DEI in supply chain sustainability initiatives.

Statistic 37

42% of supply chain professionals believe that DEI initiatives have improved team performance.

Statistic 38

Millennials and Gen Z are 60% more likely to prioritize working for companies committed to racial and gender diversity.

Statistic 39

67% of procurement leaders believe supplier diversity programs can improve resilience.

Statistic 40

55% of supply chain firms say DEI has helped attract and retain talent.

Statistic 41

70% of supply chain organizations plan to increase their diversity and inclusion budgets.

Statistic 42

44% of supply chain organizations report that they have faced challenges in implementing DEI policies.

Statistic 43

50% of supply chain organizations believe that diversity improves customer satisfaction.

Statistic 44

58% of organizations see supplier diversity as a critical part of their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy.

Statistic 45

53% of companies have experienced reputational benefits from their diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Statistic 46

39% of suppliers participating in diversity programs decommission or reduce engagement with non-diverse suppliers.

Statistic 47

Companies with diverse leadership are 25% more likely to innovate new products.

Statistic 48

45% of large corporations have integrated DEI metrics into executive performance reviews.

Statistic 49

40% of supply chain professionals feel that DEI initiatives are underfunded.

Statistic 50

49% of companies plan to increase their investment in supplier diversity programs in the coming year.

Statistic 51

72% of supply chain organizations say that DEI improves employee engagement.

Statistic 52

60% of companies see DEI as a strategic priority in supply chain management.

Statistic 53

54% of suppliers believe diversity and inclusion policies increase their chances of winning contracts.

Statistic 54

49% of organizations report difficulty in measuring the impact of their DEI initiatives.

Statistic 55

52% of supply chain executives see DEI as essential to future growth.

Statistic 56

41% of suppliers report that DEI initiatives have improved stakeholder trust.

Statistic 57

68% of supply chain professionals agree that diversity enhances corporate reputation.

Statistic 58

42% of supply chain organizations are planning to expand their DEI programs in the next year.

Statistic 59

65% of supply chain organizations agree that external partnerships are crucial for advancing DEI.

Statistic 60

57% of supply chain leaders believe that ESG and DEI goals should be integrated.

Statistic 61

73% of companies with active DEI programs have experienced improved employee morale.

Statistic 62

74% of supply chain firms agree that DEI strategies are key to their long-term success.

Statistic 63

45% of supply chain organizations consider supplier diversity a vital component of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy.

Statistic 64

The global supply chain industry is projected to increase DEI initiatives spending by 22% over the next three years.

Statistic 65

50% of supply chain companies believe that digital transformation and DEI initiatives should go hand in hand.

Statistic 66

72% of supply chain executives see cost savings as a benefit of supplier diversity.

Statistic 67

69% of supply chain professionals agree that leadership accountability is critical for effective DEI initiatives.

Statistic 68

Ethnic minorities make up just 16% of supply chain leadership teams globally.

Statistic 69

Historically underrepresented groups account for only 12% of executive roles in supply chain companies.

Statistic 70

80% of African American supply chain professionals report experiencing bias or discrimination.

Statistic 71

35% of supply chain companies lack diversity training programs.

Statistic 72

Minority women make up only 10% of supply chain leadership teams globally.

Statistic 73

46% of underrepresented groups in supply chain report feeling that their contributions are undervalued.

Statistic 74

Suppliers owned by minorities are 35% more likely to participate in sustainability programs.

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Key Highlights

Companies with diverse supply chain leaders are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially.
47% of supply chain executives agree that increasing diversity enhances innovation.
Women hold only 21% of executive positions in supply chain management roles worldwide.
78% of organizations recognize the importance of DEI in supply chain sustainability initiatives.
Ethnic minorities make up just 16% of supply chain leadership teams globally.
42% of supply chain professionals believe that DEI initiatives have improved team performance.
Millennials and Gen Z are 60% more likely to prioritize working for companies committed to racial and gender diversity.
62% of supply chain firms have implemented DEI training programs in the past year.
Companies with diverse supplier bases report up to 20% higher revenue growth.
53% of supply chain companies track and publish diversity metrics.
45% of supply chain executives see a lack of diversity as a barrier to innovation.
67% of procurement leaders believe supplier diversity programs can improve resilience.
Only 18% of supply chain companies have a comprehensive DEI strategy.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are transforming the supply chain industry, with companies embracing these initiatives to boost innovation, improve financial performance by up to 35%, and foster a more resilient and competitive global marketplace.

Cost Management and Efficiency in Supply Chain Operations

Supplier diversity programs increase procurement cost efficiency by 15% on average.
29% of supply chain firms report that their DEI efforts have led to measurable cost reductions.

Cost Management and Efficiency in Supply Chain Operations Interpretation

While championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in supply chains may initially seem like a moral imperative, these statistics reveal it’s also a savvy economic strategy—delivering a 15% boost in procurement efficiency and tangible cost savings for nearly a third of firms.

Diversity and Inclusion in Supply Chain Leadership

Companies with diverse supply chain leaders are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially.
Women hold only 21% of executive positions in supply chain management roles worldwide.
62% of supply chain firms have implemented DEI training programs in the past year.
Companies with diverse supplier bases report up to 20% higher revenue growth.
53% of supply chain companies track and publish diversity metrics.
45% of supply chain executives see a lack of diversity as a barrier to innovation.
Only 18% of supply chain companies have a comprehensive DEI strategy.
Women-led supply chain businesses are 2.3 times more likely to report financial growth.
60% of minority-owned suppliers face funding challenges that hinder growth.
25% of supply chain companies have no formal DEI metrics for supplier onboarding.
41% of minority-owned suppliers report increased business opportunities due to inclusion initiatives.
Women in supply chain management are 40% more likely to move into leadership roles if they are part of DEI programs.
63% of supply chain employees say they want more diversity in leadership.
72% of supply chain firms are actively recruiting diverse candidates for leadership roles.
29% of supply chain professionals believe unconscious bias affects supplier selection.
48% of supply chain organizations report improved problem-solving and decision-making due to diversity.
55% of minority supply chain leaders cite mentorship programs as essential for DEI success.
70% of millennials in supply chain prefer to work at inclusive organizations.
65% of supply chain management firms have set specific DEI goals for the next five years.
72% of minority suppliers report that inclusion initiatives lead to increased business opportunities.
26% of supply chain organizations lack senior management accountability for diversity efforts.
33% of supply chain organizations have experienced increased innovation due to diversity-focused teams.
58% of minority-owned suppliers have received capacity-building support from their corporate partners.
84% of supply chain diversity initiatives are aimed at increasing supplier diversity.
51% of future supply chain jobs are expected to require DEI-related skills.
39% of supply chain managers state they need more training on DEI topics.
53% of women in supply chain report facing challenges in career advancement.
81% of supply chain professionals agree that diverse teams are more innovative.
34% of supply chain companies have experienced legal or reputational risks due to lack of diversity.
59% of suppliers participating in DEI programs report higher satisfaction levels among minority workers.
66% of Gen Z supply chain professionals prioritize working for inclusive organizations.
48% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in supply chain actively pursue DEI accreditation.

Diversity and Inclusion in Supply Chain Leadership Interpretation

Despite the clear financial and innovative benefits—highlighted by a 35% higher likelihood of outperforming competitors and 84% of diversity initiatives targeting supplier inclusion—only 18% of supply chain companies boast a comprehensive DEI strategy, revealing that real progress hinges on moving beyond metrics and مجرد counting diversity to embedding inclusion as a core driver of growth and innovation.

Perceptions and Strategic Priorities in Supply Chain Management

47% of supply chain executives agree that increasing diversity enhances innovation.
78% of organizations recognize the importance of DEI in supply chain sustainability initiatives.
42% of supply chain professionals believe that DEI initiatives have improved team performance.
Millennials and Gen Z are 60% more likely to prioritize working for companies committed to racial and gender diversity.
67% of procurement leaders believe supplier diversity programs can improve resilience.
55% of supply chain firms say DEI has helped attract and retain talent.
70% of supply chain organizations plan to increase their diversity and inclusion budgets.
44% of supply chain organizations report that they have faced challenges in implementing DEI policies.
50% of supply chain organizations believe that diversity improves customer satisfaction.
58% of organizations see supplier diversity as a critical part of their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy.
53% of companies have experienced reputational benefits from their diversity and inclusion initiatives.
39% of suppliers participating in diversity programs decommission or reduce engagement with non-diverse suppliers.
Companies with diverse leadership are 25% more likely to innovate new products.
45% of large corporations have integrated DEI metrics into executive performance reviews.
40% of supply chain professionals feel that DEI initiatives are underfunded.
49% of companies plan to increase their investment in supplier diversity programs in the coming year.
72% of supply chain organizations say that DEI improves employee engagement.
60% of companies see DEI as a strategic priority in supply chain management.
54% of suppliers believe diversity and inclusion policies increase their chances of winning contracts.
49% of organizations report difficulty in measuring the impact of their DEI initiatives.
52% of supply chain executives see DEI as essential to future growth.
41% of suppliers report that DEI initiatives have improved stakeholder trust.
68% of supply chain professionals agree that diversity enhances corporate reputation.
42% of supply chain organizations are planning to expand their DEI programs in the next year.
65% of supply chain organizations agree that external partnerships are crucial for advancing DEI.
57% of supply chain leaders believe that ESG and DEI goals should be integrated.
73% of companies with active DEI programs have experienced improved employee morale.
74% of supply chain firms agree that DEI strategies are key to their long-term success.
45% of supply chain organizations consider supplier diversity a vital component of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy.
The global supply chain industry is projected to increase DEI initiatives spending by 22% over the next three years.
50% of supply chain companies believe that digital transformation and DEI initiatives should go hand in hand.
72% of supply chain executives see cost savings as a benefit of supplier diversity.
69% of supply chain professionals agree that leadership accountability is critical for effective DEI initiatives.

Perceptions and Strategic Priorities in Supply Chain Management Interpretation

With nearly half of supply chain leaders acknowledging that diversity sparks innovation, and over three-quarters branding it vital for sustainability and resilience, it's clear that embedding DEI isn't just a moral move but a strategic imperative—though the road remains challenging, underfunded, and difficult to measure, with companies increasingly recognizing that diverse leadership and supplier networks are not only good for reputation but are essential for future growth and success.

Representation of Minority Groups in Supply Chain Roles

Ethnic minorities make up just 16% of supply chain leadership teams globally.
Historically underrepresented groups account for only 12% of executive roles in supply chain companies.
80% of African American supply chain professionals report experiencing bias or discrimination.
35% of supply chain companies lack diversity training programs.
Minority women make up only 10% of supply chain leadership teams globally.
46% of underrepresented groups in supply chain report feeling that their contributions are undervalued.
Suppliers owned by minorities are 35% more likely to participate in sustainability programs.

Representation of Minority Groups in Supply Chain Roles Interpretation

These stark statistics reveal that while diversity in supply chain leadership remains limited and underrepresented groups often face bias and undervaluation, their active engagement in sustainability efforts suggests that fostering genuine inclusion could be a strategic win for industry innovation and responsibility.