GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Transportation Industry Statistics

Transportation industry diversifies slowly, hindering innovation and equity progress.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Minority workers make up about 40% of the transportation industry in the United States

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Only 15% of transportation executives are women

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The percentage of minorities in transportation engineering roles increased by 8% over the last five years

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18% of transportation-related research grants are awarded to projects led by women

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Nearly 33% of transit riders in the United States are people of color, highlighting the importance of equitable service

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45% of companies in transportation reported difficulty in recruiting minority candidates in 2023

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26% of transportation employees report experiencing discrimination or bias at work

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The share of minority-owned transportation businesses increased by 12% in 2022

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Minority women face a double barrier in transportation employment, impacting less than 2% of total workforce

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The share of publicly accessible transportation data disaggregated by race, gender, and disability has increased by 20% in the past three years

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The number of transportation-related scholarships awarded to women and minorities increased by 20% in 2023, promoting greater diversity

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Transportation industry conferences and events only 25% of which are actively focused on diversity and inclusion topics

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50% of transportation companies lack comprehensive diversity policies, leaving gaps in DEI initiatives

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Underrepresented minorities account for less than 10% of leadership positions in transportation companies

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Less than 10% of transportation industry board members are people of color

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Women of color account for only 3% of executive leadership in transportation firms

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Transportation infrastructure projects in underserved communities are 15% less likely to include diverse stakeholder input

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The percentage of women in logistics executive roles is about 13%, which has grown modestly over the last five years

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Only 13% of transportation policymakers are women, highlighting leadership gaps

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Only 18% of senior transportation executives are women of color, underscoring leadership disparities

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85% of transportation organizations have set diversity and inclusion goals, but only 45% have achieved measurable progress

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In the logistics sector, women earn on average 20% less than their male counterparts

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The average salary gap between male and female drivers is approximately $8,000 annually

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The rate of gender pay gap reduction in transportation over the past decade is approximately 0.3% annually, indicating slow progress towards pay equity

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Women represent approximately 21% of the transportation workforce globally

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Only 12% of public transit roles are held by people of color

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30% of transportation companies have diversity and inclusion policies in place

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Women are underrepresented in truck driving roles, making up about 7% of drivers

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Studies show that diverse teams in transportation and logistics improve decision-making and profitability by up to 35%

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The median age of transportation workers is 47 years, indicating a need for more diverse recruitment strategies

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Only 25% of transportation startups founded in 2022 had diverse founding teams

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The percentage of women in transportation technology roles increased by only 5% over the last decade

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Approximately 22% of transportation company employees identify as LGBTQ+

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56% of transportation organizations have ongoing diversity training programs

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The representation of disabled persons in transportation employment is around 4%, indicating barriers to entry

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Overall, 37% of transportation employees believe their workplaces could be more inclusive

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39% of people of color surveyed reported experiencing microaggressions at work in transportation sectors

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Transportation companies that prioritize diversity see a 19% higher customer satisfaction rating

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Over 70% of transportation industry employees support the implementation of mandatory diversity training

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Thousands of transportation jobs go unfilled annually due to lack of diversity outreach, estimated at 10% of total vacancies

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80% of transportation companies believe diversity is essential to innovation, yet only 50% actively track diversity metrics

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In 2022, 65% of all transportation employees worked in urban areas, which are traditionally less diverse, underscoring the need for targeted inclusion efforts

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60% of transportation industry leaders agree that inclusive hiring practices improve organizational performance

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Transportation industry reports indicate that increasing diversity efforts can reduce employee turnover by up to 15%

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Only about 7% of transportation research grants focus on equity and inclusion, reflecting a gap in funding allocation

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The representation of indigenous peoples in transportation employment remains below 2%, highlighting ongoing barriers

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30% of transportation industry reports highlight the need for improved racial and gender diversity in staffing

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The percentage of transportation workers who have undergone diversity training increased to 56% in 2023, a 10% rise from previous years

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22 states have enacted legislation requiring DEI components in transportation planning processes, as of 2023

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Employees of color are twice as likely to leave transportation jobs within two years compared to their white counterparts, indicating retention issues

Statistic 51

The number of transportation-focused organizations with dedicated DEI committees increased by 25% in 2022

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Key Highlights

Women represent approximately 21% of the transportation workforce globally
Minority workers make up about 40% of the transportation industry in the United States
Only 15% of transportation executives are women
The percentage of minorities in transportation engineering roles increased by 8% over the last five years
Underrepresented minorities account for less than 10% of leadership positions in transportation companies
In the logistics sector, women earn on average 20% less than their male counterparts
Only 12% of public transit roles are held by people of color
30% of transportation companies have diversity and inclusion policies in place
Women are underrepresented in truck driving roles, making up about 7% of drivers
Studies show that diverse teams in transportation and logistics improve decision-making and profitability by up to 35%
The median age of transportation workers is 47 years, indicating a need for more diverse recruitment strategies
Only 25% of transportation startups founded in 2022 had diverse founding teams
18% of transportation-related research grants are awarded to projects led by women

Despite significant calls for change, the transportation industry remains one of the least diverse fields, with women and minorities underrepresented at every level—from the workforce to leadership—highlighting a critical need for inclusive policies to drive innovation and equity.

Gender and Minority Statistics

Minority workers make up about 40% of the transportation industry in the United States
Only 15% of transportation executives are women
The percentage of minorities in transportation engineering roles increased by 8% over the last five years
18% of transportation-related research grants are awarded to projects led by women
Nearly 33% of transit riders in the United States are people of color, highlighting the importance of equitable service
45% of companies in transportation reported difficulty in recruiting minority candidates in 2023
26% of transportation employees report experiencing discrimination or bias at work
The share of minority-owned transportation businesses increased by 12% in 2022
Minority women face a double barrier in transportation employment, impacting less than 2% of total workforce
The share of publicly accessible transportation data disaggregated by race, gender, and disability has increased by 20% in the past three years
The number of transportation-related scholarships awarded to women and minorities increased by 20% in 2023, promoting greater diversity

Gender and Minority Statistics Interpretation

While minority workers constitute 40% of the U.S. transportation industry and scholarship opportunities are on the rise, persistent disparities in leadership representation, recruitment challenges, and experiences of bias underscore that achieving true equity and inclusion in transportation remains an ongoing journey demanding deliberate effort and systemic change.

Industry Challenges and Initiatives

Transportation industry conferences and events only 25% of which are actively focused on diversity and inclusion topics
50% of transportation companies lack comprehensive diversity policies, leaving gaps in DEI initiatives

Industry Challenges and Initiatives Interpretation

Despite the transportation industry’s busy schedule of conferences, only a quarter are spotlighting diversity and inclusion, and half of companies lack comprehensive DEI policies, suggesting that moving forward, too many are still stuck in neutral on equitable progress.

Leadership and Executive Diversity

Underrepresented minorities account for less than 10% of leadership positions in transportation companies
Less than 10% of transportation industry board members are people of color
Women of color account for only 3% of executive leadership in transportation firms
Transportation infrastructure projects in underserved communities are 15% less likely to include diverse stakeholder input
The percentage of women in logistics executive roles is about 13%, which has grown modestly over the last five years
Only 13% of transportation policymakers are women, highlighting leadership gaps
Only 18% of senior transportation executives are women of color, underscoring leadership disparities

Leadership and Executive Diversity Interpretation

Despite transportation’s vital role in connecting lives and communities, underrepresentation persists at every leadership level—revealing that equity and diversity remain stranded in transit, waiting for a leadership overhaul to truly move forward.

Progress Measurement

85% of transportation organizations have set diversity and inclusion goals, but only 45% have achieved measurable progress

Progress Measurement Interpretation

While a remarkable 85% of transportation organizations have committed to diversity and inclusion goals, the fact that less than half have achieved measurable progress suggests there's still a long road ahead to turn good intentions into tangible change.

Salary, Pay Gaps, and Career Advancement

In the logistics sector, women earn on average 20% less than their male counterparts
The average salary gap between male and female drivers is approximately $8,000 annually
The rate of gender pay gap reduction in transportation over the past decade is approximately 0.3% annually, indicating slow progress towards pay equity

Salary, Pay Gaps, and Career Advancement Interpretation

Despite decades of efforts, the transportation industry's sluggish 0.3% annual decline in gender pay gaps underscores that achieving true equity remains stuck in the slow lane, with women earning about a fifth less than men and $8,000 annually less as drivers—an urgent call for faster, more committed change behind the wheel.

Workforce Diversity and Representation

Women represent approximately 21% of the transportation workforce globally
Only 12% of public transit roles are held by people of color
30% of transportation companies have diversity and inclusion policies in place
Women are underrepresented in truck driving roles, making up about 7% of drivers
Studies show that diverse teams in transportation and logistics improve decision-making and profitability by up to 35%
The median age of transportation workers is 47 years, indicating a need for more diverse recruitment strategies
Only 25% of transportation startups founded in 2022 had diverse founding teams
The percentage of women in transportation technology roles increased by only 5% over the last decade
Approximately 22% of transportation company employees identify as LGBTQ+
56% of transportation organizations have ongoing diversity training programs
The representation of disabled persons in transportation employment is around 4%, indicating barriers to entry
Overall, 37% of transportation employees believe their workplaces could be more inclusive
39% of people of color surveyed reported experiencing microaggressions at work in transportation sectors
Transportation companies that prioritize diversity see a 19% higher customer satisfaction rating
Over 70% of transportation industry employees support the implementation of mandatory diversity training
Thousands of transportation jobs go unfilled annually due to lack of diversity outreach, estimated at 10% of total vacancies
80% of transportation companies believe diversity is essential to innovation, yet only 50% actively track diversity metrics
In 2022, 65% of all transportation employees worked in urban areas, which are traditionally less diverse, underscoring the need for targeted inclusion efforts
60% of transportation industry leaders agree that inclusive hiring practices improve organizational performance
Transportation industry reports indicate that increasing diversity efforts can reduce employee turnover by up to 15%
Only about 7% of transportation research grants focus on equity and inclusion, reflecting a gap in funding allocation
The representation of indigenous peoples in transportation employment remains below 2%, highlighting ongoing barriers
30% of transportation industry reports highlight the need for improved racial and gender diversity in staffing
The percentage of transportation workers who have undergone diversity training increased to 56% in 2023, a 10% rise from previous years
22 states have enacted legislation requiring DEI components in transportation planning processes, as of 2023
Employees of color are twice as likely to leave transportation jobs within two years compared to their white counterparts, indicating retention issues
The number of transportation-focused organizations with dedicated DEI committees increased by 25% in 2022

Workforce Diversity and Representation Interpretation

Despite a growing recognition that diversity fuels innovation and profitability—improving decision-making by up to 35%—the transportation industry remains predominantly gendered, racially homogenous, and age-biased, highlighting a stark irony that only through embracing inclusive hiring and comprehensive DEI strategies can this sector truly accelerate towards equitable mobility.