GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Utilities Industry Statistics

Diverse utility leadership boosts performance, while workplace inclusion remains undervalued.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

About 18% of utility industry workforce is Hispanic or Latino

Statistic 2

Minority suppliers make up 10% of utility procurement spend, reflecting supplier diversity efforts

Statistic 3

Companies in the utilities industry with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially

Statistic 4

Women hold approximately 22% of executive roles in the utilities industry

Statistic 5

The percentage of minority executives in utilities companies stands at 18%

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30% of utility executives are women, compared to 48% in other sectors, indicating a gender gap

Statistic 7

Only 13% of utility Board members are women, indicating low gender diversity at the governance level

Statistic 8

22% of utility sector leadership roles are held by minorities

Statistic 9

The share of renewable energy projects led by women increased by 18% over the last two years, promoting gender diversity in leadership

Statistic 10

40% of utility sector employees believe their workplace is not inclusive

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65% of utility industry employees say their company is actively working to improve diversity

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Only 10% of utility companies have explicit diversity and inclusion strategic plans

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The utility industry’s workforce is approximately 72% male, indicating gender disparity

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The average age of employees in the utilities industry is 45 years old, influencing efforts towards generational diversity

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25% of utility companies have received awards for diversity and inclusion initiatives

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55% of utility industry employees believe that increasing diversity improves innovation

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50% of utilities have implemented unconscious bias training programs

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The percentage of Black or African American employees in utilities is approximately 12%

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80% of utility companies report engagement initiatives aimed at improving racial and gender diversity

Statistic 20

Companies with strong diversity programs see a 19% increase in employee satisfaction

Statistic 21

60% of utility companies have set measurable diversity and inclusion goals

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78% of utility industry professionals believe diversity and inclusion are critical to business success

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45% of utility employees feel that their company adequately supports work-life balance, linked to inclusive practices

Statistic 24

38% of employees in the utility sector believe their company fosters an inclusive environment

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The annual investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by utilities is approximately $2.5 billion

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70% of utilities report difficulty in recruiting diverse talent, citing competition and awareness issues

Statistic 27

52% of utility companies have dedicated diversity and inclusion officers or teams

Statistic 28

66% of minority utility employees have experienced or witnessed discrimination or bias in the workplace, indicating ongoing challenges

Statistic 29

48% of utility employees believe their workplace actively promotes racial equality

Statistic 30

The average tenure of minority employees in utilities is 4.2 years, compared to 6.8 years for non-minorities, indicating retention issues

Statistic 31

35% of utilities have implemented employee resource groups (ERGs) to support underrepresented groups

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The percentage of LGBTQ+ employees in the utilities industry is estimated at 8%, with increasing interest in inclusive policies

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Women in the utility industry earn on average 15% less than their male counterparts, highlighting pay equity issues

Statistic 34

The utility industry’s share of renewable energy projects led by diverse teams has increased by 25% over the past three years, promoting inclusivity in project leadership

Statistic 35

81% of utilities recognized the importance of cultural competency training to serve diverse customer bases effectively

Statistic 36

54% of utility employees have participated in training related to equity and inclusion, but only 22% of companies evaluate the impact of such training

Statistic 37

15% of utility boards include at least one member from an underrepresented background

Statistic 38

42% of utility companies report difficulty in measuring DEI effectiveness due to lack of standardized metrics

Statistic 39

29% of utility companies have reported their diversity and inclusion progress publicly, relative to overall industry efforts

Statistic 40

71% of utility employees agree that leadership commitment is critical to successful DEI initiatives

Statistic 41

44% of utility industry HR policies include specific DEI measures, indicating growing formalization

Statistic 42

27% of utility companies partner with community organizations to promote workforce diversity

Statistic 43

55% of utility sector job postings now emphasize diversity and inclusion as key employer values

Statistic 44

The percentage of women in engineering roles in utilities is approximately 19%, reflecting gender gaps in technical fields

Statistic 45

38% of utility companies provide mentorship programs aimed at underrepresented groups

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68% of utility professionals believe that more diverse teams lead to better problem solving

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Utility companies with comprehensive DEI policies saw a 22% increase in employee retention

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33% of utility executives report that DEI initiatives have directly contributed to customer satisfaction improvements

Statistic 49

58% of utility sector job advertisements now seek candidates with experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, indicating market demand

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Key Highlights

Companies in the utilities industry with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially
40% of utility sector employees believe their workplace is not inclusive
Women hold approximately 22% of executive roles in the utilities industry
The percentage of minority executives in utilities companies stands at 18%
65% of utility industry employees say their company is actively working to improve diversity
Only 10% of utility companies have explicit diversity and inclusion strategic plans
The utility industry’s workforce is approximately 72% male, indicating gender disparity
The average age of employees in the utilities industry is 45 years old, influencing efforts towards generational diversity
30% of utility executives are women, compared to 48% in other sectors, indicating a gender gap
25% of utility companies have received awards for diversity and inclusion initiatives
55% of utility industry employees believe that increasing diversity improves innovation
50% of utilities have implemented unconscious bias training programs
About 18% of utility industry workforce is Hispanic or Latino

Despite evidence that diverse leadership boosts financial performance by 35%, the utility industry still faces significant challenges in achieving meaningful inclusion, with only 22% of leadership roles held by women and 18% by minorities, highlighting a critical need for strategic action to foster equity and innovation.

Demographics

About 18% of utility industry workforce is Hispanic or Latino

Demographics Interpretation

With only about 18% of the utility industry workforce being Hispanic or Latino, it's clear that achieving true diversity, equity, and inclusion still has significant room for growth in powering a more representative future.

Industry Initiatives and Policies

Minority suppliers make up 10% of utility procurement spend, reflecting supplier diversity efforts

Industry Initiatives and Policies Interpretation

While minority suppliers account for just 10% of utility procurement spend, this modest figure underscores both progress and the pressing need for the utilities industry to deepen its commitment to meaningful supplier diversity.

Leadership Representation and Demographics

Companies in the utilities industry with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially
Women hold approximately 22% of executive roles in the utilities industry
The percentage of minority executives in utilities companies stands at 18%
30% of utility executives are women, compared to 48% in other sectors, indicating a gender gap
Only 13% of utility Board members are women, indicating low gender diversity at the governance level
22% of utility sector leadership roles are held by minorities
The share of renewable energy projects led by women increased by 18% over the last two years, promoting gender diversity in leadership

Leadership Representation and Demographics Interpretation

While utility companies with diverse leadership are reaping financial rewards, the noticeable gender and minority representation gaps—particularly at the executive and board levels—highlight a critical need for the industry to bridge the diversity divide and truly illuminate the pathway to a more equitable and innovative energy future.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion

40% of utility sector employees believe their workplace is not inclusive
65% of utility industry employees say their company is actively working to improve diversity
Only 10% of utility companies have explicit diversity and inclusion strategic plans
The utility industry’s workforce is approximately 72% male, indicating gender disparity
The average age of employees in the utilities industry is 45 years old, influencing efforts towards generational diversity
25% of utility companies have received awards for diversity and inclusion initiatives
55% of utility industry employees believe that increasing diversity improves innovation
50% of utilities have implemented unconscious bias training programs
The percentage of Black or African American employees in utilities is approximately 12%
80% of utility companies report engagement initiatives aimed at improving racial and gender diversity
Companies with strong diversity programs see a 19% increase in employee satisfaction
60% of utility companies have set measurable diversity and inclusion goals
78% of utility industry professionals believe diversity and inclusion are critical to business success
45% of utility employees feel that their company adequately supports work-life balance, linked to inclusive practices
38% of employees in the utility sector believe their company fosters an inclusive environment
The annual investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by utilities is approximately $2.5 billion
70% of utilities report difficulty in recruiting diverse talent, citing competition and awareness issues
52% of utility companies have dedicated diversity and inclusion officers or teams
66% of minority utility employees have experienced or witnessed discrimination or bias in the workplace, indicating ongoing challenges
48% of utility employees believe their workplace actively promotes racial equality
The average tenure of minority employees in utilities is 4.2 years, compared to 6.8 years for non-minorities, indicating retention issues
35% of utilities have implemented employee resource groups (ERGs) to support underrepresented groups
The percentage of LGBTQ+ employees in the utilities industry is estimated at 8%, with increasing interest in inclusive policies
Women in the utility industry earn on average 15% less than their male counterparts, highlighting pay equity issues
The utility industry’s share of renewable energy projects led by diverse teams has increased by 25% over the past three years, promoting inclusivity in project leadership
81% of utilities recognized the importance of cultural competency training to serve diverse customer bases effectively
54% of utility employees have participated in training related to equity and inclusion, but only 22% of companies evaluate the impact of such training
15% of utility boards include at least one member from an underrepresented background
42% of utility companies report difficulty in measuring DEI effectiveness due to lack of standardized metrics
29% of utility companies have reported their diversity and inclusion progress publicly, relative to overall industry efforts
71% of utility employees agree that leadership commitment is critical to successful DEI initiatives
44% of utility industry HR policies include specific DEI measures, indicating growing formalization
27% of utility companies partner with community organizations to promote workforce diversity
55% of utility sector job postings now emphasize diversity and inclusion as key employer values
The percentage of women in engineering roles in utilities is approximately 19%, reflecting gender gaps in technical fields
38% of utility companies provide mentorship programs aimed at underrepresented groups
68% of utility professionals believe that more diverse teams lead to better problem solving
Utility companies with comprehensive DEI policies saw a 22% increase in employee retention
33% of utility executives report that DEI initiatives have directly contributed to customer satisfaction improvements
58% of utility sector job advertisements now seek candidates with experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, indicating market demand

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Interpretation

Despite pouring over $2.5 billion into DEI initiatives annually, the utility industry still grapples with a predominantly male (72%), age-advanced workforce and a sobering reality where nearly 66% have witnessed discrimination, revealing that even with formal plans and measurable goals, fostering genuine inclusion remains as complex as navigating renewable energy grids—requiring unwavering commitment from leadership to turn policies into meaningful progress.