According to Equilar’s “Ethnicity Tracker,” as of the end of 2021, 44.6% of Equilar 500* board seats, and 36.1% of Russell 3000 board seats, were filled with females and ethnically diverse directors combined. Ethnically diverse directors (i.e., just ethnically diverse directors, excluding non-ethnically diverse females) comprised 21.9% and 15.1% of the Equilar 500 and Russell 3000 board seats, respectively.
By industry, the Utilities industry had the highest percentage of ethnically diverse, and diverse (females + ethnically diverse directors), directors among Russell 3000 companies, as shown here:
In comparison, Real Estate sector boards led on ethnic diversity, and female + ethnic diversity, among the Equilar 500.
*The Equilar 500 is an index comprised of the largest US-based companies, by revenue trading, on one of the major U.S. stock exchanges.
See “As diversity rises, US boards still disproportionately white” (AP News) and additional resources on our Board Diversity page.
This post first appeared in the weekly Society Alert!