Eighty percent of organizations use at least one DEI related metric when making decisions. Unemployment rates differ by race while union membership stays low overall. The statistics that follow show how housing costs, insurance coverage, and other measures vary across populations.
Key Takeaways
- 7.2% of U.S. adults had a disability in 2022
- 7.6% of U.S. adults were unemployed in 2023
- 3.8% of White adults in the United States were unemployed in 2023
- 9.4% of workers in the United States were in a union in 2023
- 26.7 million people in the United States experienced food insecurity in 2022
- 10.2% of children in the United States were uninsured in 2022
- 14.6% of adults in the United States reported no dental visit in the past year in 2022
- 39.9% of households in the United States paid more than 30% of income on housing costs in 2022
- The United States had a Gini index of 0.481 in 2022 (income inequality measure)
- The World Bank estimated the poverty headcount ratio at $6.85/day (2017 PPP) was 29.3% for the world in 2022
- 51% of children whose parents are incarcerated are under age 6 (2016 estimate by the Urban Institute)
- In 2024, 80% of organizations reported they used at least one DEI-related metric for decision-making, according to Gartner (survey of HR leaders)
- In 2023, 56% of organizations reported they had formal processes to measure pay equity, according to Mercer’s HR survey
- In 2024, 39% of organizations reported using AI for hiring decisions, and 24% of those reported it impacted hiring outcomes (Gartner survey)
- 8.1% of U.S. adults (age 18+), or 20.3 million people, had a serious psychological distress in 2022
U.S. inequality is persistent, with millions facing unemployment, housing burdens, food insecurity, and unmet health needs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics1 stats
01
7.2% of U.S. adults had a disability in 2022
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
In the Demographics category, 7.2% of U.S. adults reported having a disability in 2022, underscoring how disability status is a key part of the social justice landscape.
02 · Category
Labor & Wages4 stats
01
7.6% of U.S. adults were unemployed in 2023
02
3.8% of White adults in the United States were unemployed in 2023
03
9.4% of workers in the United States were in a union in 2023
04
10.8% of Black workers were in a union in 2023
Interpretation
Labor & Wages Interpretation
In the Labor and Wages landscape, unemployment is relatively modest at 7.6% overall in 2023 but union membership remains limited with just 9.4% of workers, and it is lower for White workers than for Black workers at 3.8% and 10.8% respectively.
03 · Category
Public Health & Access4 stats
01
26.7 million people in the United States experienced food insecurity in 2022
02
10.2% of children in the United States were uninsured in 2022
03
14.6% of adults in the United States reported no dental visit in the past year in 2022
04
In 2021, 23% of adults reported contacting a health professional for mental health or substance use concerns in the past year
Interpretation
Public Health & Access Interpretation
In the Public Health and Access landscape, millions are missing essential care, with 26.7 million people facing food insecurity in 2022 and 10.2% of children uninsured the same year, while 14.6% of adults reported skipping a dental visit in 2022 and 23% of adults in 2021 reached out to a health professional for mental health or substance use concerns.
04 · Category
Housing & Homelessness1 stats
01
39.9% of households in the United States paid more than 30% of income on housing costs in 2022
Interpretation
Housing & Homelessness Interpretation
In 2022, 39.9% of U.S. households spent more than 30% of their income on housing costs, underscoring how housing affordability remains a major social justice challenge tied to homelessness risk.
05 · Category
Inequality & Equity2 stats
01
The United States had a Gini index of 0.481 in 2022 (income inequality measure)
02
The World Bank estimated the poverty headcount ratio at $6.85/day (2017 PPP) was 29.3% for the world in 2022
Interpretation
Inequality & Equity Interpretation
In 2022, the United States’ Gini index of 0.481 and the world’s estimated 29.3% poverty headcount at $6.85 a day (2017 PPP) point to persistent inequality and uneven access to economic opportunity both within the US and globally.
06 · Category
Public Safety & Justice1 stats
01
51% of children whose parents are incarcerated are under age 6 (2016 estimate by the Urban Institute)
Interpretation
Public Safety & Justice Interpretation
In the Public Safety and Justice space, the fact that 51% of children with incarcerated parents are under age 6 highlights how early childhood is heavily affected by family involvement with the justice system.
07 · Category
Industry Trends5 stats
01
In 2024, 80% of organizations reported they used at least one DEI-related metric for decision-making, according to Gartner (survey of HR leaders)
02
In 2023, 56% of organizations reported they had formal processes to measure pay equity, according to Mercer’s HR survey
03
In 2024, 39% of organizations reported using AI for hiring decisions, and 24% of those reported it impacted hiring outcomes (Gartner survey)
04
In 2022, 45% of workplaces reported a formal process for tracking employee resource groups (ERGs) and their outcomes, according to Deloitte’s human capital trends
05
In 2023, 25% of organizations reported using employee data to predict and mitigate DEI risks, according to a Microsoft Work Trend Index companion analysis
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Across industry trends in social justice, organizations are increasingly turning metrics and data into action, with 80% using at least one DEI-related metric for decision-making in 2024 and growing momentum toward using data and AI for hiring and risk mitigation, including 39% using AI in hiring decisions in 2024.
More related reading
08 · Category
Health Access3 stats
01
8.1% of U.S. adults (age 18+), or 20.3 million people, had a serious psychological distress in 2022
02
23.4% of U.S. adults reported having ever been diagnosed with diabetes in 2023
03
5.4% of U.S. adults had no health insurance coverage in 2022
Interpretation
Health Access Interpretation
In the Health Access category, 5.4% of U.S. adults went without health insurance in 2022 while serious psychological distress affected 8.1% in 2022 and diabetes reached 23.4% in 2023, underscoring how barriers to care are likely intersecting with major health needs.
09 · Category
Housing & Safety4 stats
01
2.8 million renter households in the United States were homeless (or at risk of homelessness) in 2022
02
58.1% of households receiving rental assistance paid a greater share of their income toward rent without assistance than they would after assistance (2022)
03
26.6% of U.S. households were cost-burdened (spending 30%+ of income on housing) in 2023
04
33.5% of renters spent 30%+ of income on rent in 2022 (U.S.)
Interpretation
Housing & Safety Interpretation
In the Housing and Safety landscape, the share of Americans stuck paying too much for housing remains high, with 33.5% of renters spending 30% or more of their income on rent in 2022 and 26.6% of households cost-burdened in 2023.
10 · Category
Economic Opportunity4 stats
01
10.6% of U.S. workers were unemployed in 2023
02
10.2% of children in the United States were in poverty in 2023
03
0.54% of the U.S. population received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in federal fiscal year 2022
04
4.0% of households were classified as “unbanked” in the United States in 2023
Interpretation
Economic Opportunity Interpretation
For the Economic Opportunity angle, the data suggests persistent financial vulnerability as 10.6% of U.S. workers were unemployed and 10.2% of children were in poverty in 2023, while relatively few people relied on TANF and 4.0% of households remained unbanked.
11 · Category
Workplace Equity2 stats
01
3.7% of workers in the United States reported being union members in 2023
02
49% of employees reported they believe their organization measures pay equity (2023, employee survey)
Interpretation
Workplace Equity Interpretation
For Workplace Equity, only 3.7% of U.S. workers reported being union members in 2023, while 49% of employees say their organization measures pay equity in a 2023 survey, suggesting that pay-focused efforts may be more visible than collective bargaining coverage.
12 · Category
Community & Inclusion2 stats
01
68.0% of U.S. consumers believe companies should disclose their DEI practices (2023)
02
37.1% of public schools in the United States are “high minority” schools (2021-22)
Interpretation
Community & Inclusion Interpretation
From a Community and Inclusion perspective, the data shows strong pressure for transparency and equity, with 68.0% of U.S. consumers expecting companies to disclose their DEI practices in 2023 alongside 37.1% of public schools classified as high minority in 2021 to 22.
13 · Category
Digital Equity2 stats
01
19.0% of households with school-age children lacked broadband access at home in 2023
02
16.0% of adults in the United States lacked basic digital skills in 2022
Interpretation
Digital Equity Interpretation
In 2023, 19.0% of households with school-age children lacked broadband access at home, and with 16.0% of U.S. adults lacking basic digital skills in 2022, the data shows that digital equity is being limited by both connectivity and skills gaps.
report visual · Comparison
Selected social justice indicators (latest available)
Across key areas—disability, unemployment, food insecurity, and health access—substantial shares of people experience barriers.
People experiencing food insecurity (2022)26.7
Children uninsured (2022)10.2%
Adults with serious psychological distress (2022)8.1%
Adults unemployed (2023)7.6%
Adults with a disability (2022)7.2%
Renter households homeless (or at risk) (2022)2.8
source-verifiedcdc.gov · bls.gov · ers.usda.gov · samhsa.gov · huduser.gov2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Social Justice Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/social-justice-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Social Justice Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/social-justice-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Social Justice Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/social-justice-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+15 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)