GITNUXREPORT 2025

Workplace Discrimination Statistics

Workplace discrimination affects diverse employees, harming retention, productivity, and equity efforts.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform less diverse counterparts

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Only 22% of workplaces have formal policies that explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ employees

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Women earn approximately 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in the same roles, indicating a persistent gender pay gap

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Disabled workers are 42% less likely to be employed than nondisabled workers

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The median pay gap between Black and white workers is approximately 20%

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83% of employees of color say their workplace needs to do more to promote diversity

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78% of LGBTQ employees feel they can’t be fully themselves at work

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70% of employees believe that their workplace needs to improve diversity and inclusion efforts

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Women of color report feeling less safe from discrimination at work than their white counterparts, with 52% feeling unsafe

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Nearly 44% of LGBTQ employees have experienced discrimination or harassment at work

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36% of minority employees report experiencing discrimination or unfair treatment at work

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27% of women have experienced gender discrimination at work

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Black employees are twice as likely to experience discrimination as white employees

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Hispanic workers report a higher rate of discrimination at 33%, compared to 23% for white workers

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LGBTQ employees are 1.5 times more likely to report unfair treatment in the workplace

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Nearly 50% of women report experiencing sexual harassment at work

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Age discrimination complaints comprise 21% of all discrimination claims filed with the EEOC

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Asian Americans experience workplace discrimination at a rate of about 28%

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29% of employees of color report experiencing workplace discrimination

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Women of color face higher rates of workplace discrimination, with 43% reporting unfair treatment

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60% of women report experiencing some form of discrimination or bias at work

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Nearly 25% of transgender workers have faced discrimination or harassment at work

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Workplace discrimination contributes to higher turnover rates, with 60% of employees leaving due to feeling discriminated against

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Women report experiencing workplace discrimination at rates higher than other forms of discrimination, with 44% experiencing gender bias

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57% of employees who experience discrimination report feeling less motivated at work

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45% of women in the workplace have experienced sexual harassment, but many do not report it

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Older employees (aged 55+) face a discrimination rate of about 42%

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24% of employed persons with disabilities report experiencing discrimination or unfair treatment at work

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Only 10% of complaint reports about workplace discrimination are investigated thoroughly, resulting in a high rate of unresolved issues

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Workplace discrimination costs U.S. employers an estimated $64 billion annually due to legal costs, turnover, and lost productivity

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65% of LGBTQ employees report experiencing some form of discrimination or bias

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38% of minority women reported experiencing discrimination at work, encompassing race and gender bias

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Nearly 50% of employees with disabilities report facing discrimination or bias, significantly impacting their job retention

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58% of companies have faced lawsuits related to workplace discrimination, with many resulting in costly settlements

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Employees in the tech industry report the highest rates of workplace discrimination based on gender and race, with over 40% experiencing some form of bias

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62% of LGBTQ employees have witnessed or experienced discrimination in their workplace, according to recent surveys

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Discrimination based on religion affects approximately 31% of workers, often leading to job loss or demotion

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43% of women report experiencing workplace harassment and discrimination, which affects their career progression

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75% of disabled workers report facing some form of workplace bias or discrimination, impacting their ability to perform effectively

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Women in leadership roles are 30% more likely to encounter gender bias

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Only 23% of workplaces have comprehensive anti-discrimination training programs, leaving many employees unprotected

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Workplace discrimination contributes to a reported 20% decrease in productivity among affected employees

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Key Highlights

Nearly 44% of LGBTQ employees have experienced discrimination or harassment at work
Women earn approximately 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in the same roles, indicating a persistent gender pay gap
36% of minority employees report experiencing discrimination or unfair treatment at work
Disabled workers are 42% less likely to be employed than nondisabled workers
27% of women have experienced gender discrimination at work
Black employees are twice as likely to experience discrimination as white employees
Hispanic workers report a higher rate of discrimination at 33%, compared to 23% for white workers
LGBTQ employees are 1.5 times more likely to report unfair treatment in the workplace
Nearly 50% of women report experiencing sexual harassment at work
Age discrimination complaints comprise 21% of all discrimination claims filed with the EEOC
The median pay gap between Black and white workers is approximately 20%
Asian Americans experience workplace discrimination at a rate of about 28%
29% of employees of color report experiencing workplace discrimination

Despite ongoing efforts, workplace discrimination remains alarmingly pervasive, affecting nearly every marginalized group—from LGBTQ employees and women to minorities and individuals with disabilities—costing U.S. companies billions annually and highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Diversity and Inclusion Metrics

Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform less diverse counterparts

Diversity and Inclusion Metrics Interpretation

Diversity at the top isn’t just morally right—it’s a smart business move, with companies led by diverse teams 35% more likely to outperform their less diverse competitors.

Legal and Organizational Policies

Only 22% of workplaces have formal policies that explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ employees

Legal and Organizational Policies Interpretation

With just 22% of workplaces enshrining explicit protections for LGBTQ employees, it's clear that many workplaces are still playing hide-and-seek with inclusion.

Pay Gaps and Economic Inequality

Women earn approximately 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in the same roles, indicating a persistent gender pay gap
Disabled workers are 42% less likely to be employed than nondisabled workers
The median pay gap between Black and white workers is approximately 20%

Pay Gaps and Economic Inequality Interpretation

These stark statistics reveal that despite progress, workplace inequality remains a formidable barrier, with women earning less than men, disabled workers facing significant employment hurdles, and Black workers still earning substantially less than their white counterparts—underscoring the urgent need for systemic change to achieve true equity.

Representation and Safe Workplace Environment

83% of employees of color say their workplace needs to do more to promote diversity
78% of LGBTQ employees feel they can’t be fully themselves at work
70% of employees believe that their workplace needs to improve diversity and inclusion efforts
Women of color report feeling less safe from discrimination at work than their white counterparts, with 52% feeling unsafe

Representation and Safe Workplace Environment Interpretation

These statistics unveil a sobering truth: despite ongoing dialogues on workplace diversity, a majority of employees of color, LGBTQ individuals, and women of color still feel unheard, unsafe, or silenced—highlighting that true inclusion remains an urgent, unmet workplace imperative rather than an aspirational ideal.

Workplace Discrimination and Harassment

Nearly 44% of LGBTQ employees have experienced discrimination or harassment at work
36% of minority employees report experiencing discrimination or unfair treatment at work
27% of women have experienced gender discrimination at work
Black employees are twice as likely to experience discrimination as white employees
Hispanic workers report a higher rate of discrimination at 33%, compared to 23% for white workers
LGBTQ employees are 1.5 times more likely to report unfair treatment in the workplace
Nearly 50% of women report experiencing sexual harassment at work
Age discrimination complaints comprise 21% of all discrimination claims filed with the EEOC
Asian Americans experience workplace discrimination at a rate of about 28%
29% of employees of color report experiencing workplace discrimination
Women of color face higher rates of workplace discrimination, with 43% reporting unfair treatment
60% of women report experiencing some form of discrimination or bias at work
Nearly 25% of transgender workers have faced discrimination or harassment at work
Workplace discrimination contributes to higher turnover rates, with 60% of employees leaving due to feeling discriminated against
Women report experiencing workplace discrimination at rates higher than other forms of discrimination, with 44% experiencing gender bias
57% of employees who experience discrimination report feeling less motivated at work
45% of women in the workplace have experienced sexual harassment, but many do not report it
Older employees (aged 55+) face a discrimination rate of about 42%
24% of employed persons with disabilities report experiencing discrimination or unfair treatment at work
Only 10% of complaint reports about workplace discrimination are investigated thoroughly, resulting in a high rate of unresolved issues
Workplace discrimination costs U.S. employers an estimated $64 billion annually due to legal costs, turnover, and lost productivity
65% of LGBTQ employees report experiencing some form of discrimination or bias
38% of minority women reported experiencing discrimination at work, encompassing race and gender bias
Nearly 50% of employees with disabilities report facing discrimination or bias, significantly impacting their job retention
58% of companies have faced lawsuits related to workplace discrimination, with many resulting in costly settlements
Employees in the tech industry report the highest rates of workplace discrimination based on gender and race, with over 40% experiencing some form of bias
62% of LGBTQ employees have witnessed or experienced discrimination in their workplace, according to recent surveys
Discrimination based on religion affects approximately 31% of workers, often leading to job loss or demotion
43% of women report experiencing workplace harassment and discrimination, which affects their career progression
75% of disabled workers report facing some form of workplace bias or discrimination, impacting their ability to perform effectively
Women in leadership roles are 30% more likely to encounter gender bias
Only 23% of workplaces have comprehensive anti-discrimination training programs, leaving many employees unprotected
Workplace discrimination contributes to a reported 20% decrease in productivity among affected employees

Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Interpretation

With nearly half of LGBTQ employees and over 60% of women facing workplace discrimination or bias—costing employers billions and tarnishing productivity—it's clear that fostering genuine inclusivity isn't just morally right but essential for a thriving, failure-resistant workforce.