Seattle: Microsoft has released its 2024 Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) report, marking its sixth annual review and detailing progress in building a more inclusive and equitable workplace. The report, which also celebrates the eleventh year of sharing comprehensive workforce data, reflects Microsoft's focus on representation and equitable growth, reinforcing the company's mission to empower individuals and organisations worldwide.
This year’s report is Microsoft's most transparent to date, aligning D&I efforts with broader business goals as the tech giant approaches its 50th anniversary. Notable advancements include increased diversity in data center roles, which saw a 23.9 percent global workforce growth, and a 28.9 percent rise in the U.S. alone. The report also introduces self-identified data for Indigenous, military, and disabled employees globally, underscoring the company’s commitment to reflecting the diversity of its workforce.
Expanding Gender and Ethnic Representation
In gender representation, women now make up 31.6% of Microsoft’s workforce, up by 0.4 percentage points, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in women holding technical roles, now at 27.2 percent. Racial and ethnic diversity has also increased, with minority groups now constituting 53.9 percent of the employee base, a 0.6 percentage point boost.
Women now make up 31.6% of Microsoft’s workforce
Progress in Leadership Diversity
The report highlights strides in leadership diversity, where Black and African American employees now represent 4.3% of the Partner and Executive levels, up 0.5 percentage points. Hispanic and Latinx representation at the executive level reached 4.6%, marking a 0.8 percentage point increase. These shifts reflect Microsoft’s focus on cultivating a diverse senior leadership team.
Commitment to Pay Equity
Microsoft expanded its global analysis of gender pay equity in 2024 to cover women in and outside the U.S., underscoring its commitment to maintaining pay equity and reducing wage gaps, particularly for women and minorities in senior positions.
Employee Sentiment and Inclusive Culture Initiatives
Microsoft’s Employee Signals survey revealed that 76 percent of employees globally feel they are ‘thriving,’ with a rise in perceptions of the company’s D&I commitment, scoring a 79 out of 100. Awareness of allyship has significantly increased, with 95.6 percent of employees understanding this core value by mid-2024, up from 65 percent in 2019.
Pioneering Initiatives Supporting Inclusion
Microsoft’s report also highlights key D&I initiatives that have shaped its culture:
LGBTQIA+ Support: Microsoft expanded protections to LGBTQIA+ employees in 1989, setting an early precedent for inclusivity.
Racial Equity Initiative: Launched in 2020, the initiative addresses racial inequities with measurable targets for progress by 2025.
D&I Training: Introduced in 2021, immersive simulations help employees practice diversity skills, including recognizing biases and responding to microaggressions.
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Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA): Recently expanded to support military spouses with IT training for portable tech careers.
Inclusive Features in Microsoft 365: Features like pronoun displays and customizable self-expression options reflect Microsoft’s commitment to user-driven inclusivity.
As Microsoft continues to integrate diversity into its corporate strategy, the company reaffirms that diversity and inclusion are essential to innovation and workforce empowerment, aiming to unlock its employees’ full potential.