2024 Inclusion Index Organizations

August 20, 2024 (WASHINGTON, D.C.)—Seramount unveiled its sixth annual Inclusion Index today. The Inclusion Index helps organizations understand trends and opportunities in demographic representation, creates a road map to drive internal change, and identifies diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) solutions to close any gaps. Organizations provided data and were measured in three key areas: best practices in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of people from underrepresented groups—women, racial/ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people; inclusive corporate culture; and demographic diversity. 

This year, 160 organizations applied to participate in the Seramount Inclusion Index. Twenty-nine organizations are recognized for superior achievement as Pinnacle Inclusion Index companies, which is defined as receiving an 80 percent or higher score. Forty-two of those listed on the 2024 Inclusion Index received a 70 percent or higher score, qualifying as Leading Inclusion Index companies, and thirty-eight of those listed achieved at least 60 percent of the available points to qualify for the overall index. Completed applications were collected online from December 2023 through March 2024. Results reveal opportunities for all organizations to target their diversity and inclusion efforts for greater effectiveness.  

“We take immense pride in the effectiveness of DEI best practices among our Inclusion Index organizations,” Katie Oertli Mooney, Managing Director of Seramount. “These organizations consistently raise the bar on building and sustaining inclusive workplaces with their unwavering commitment, even in the face of today’s DEI backlash.”

Pinnacle Inclusion Index Organizations

Leading Inclusion Index Organizations

Seramount Inclusion Index Organizations

Key Findings

• Representation within Leadership. 41% of corporate executives who report directly to the CEO are women (up from 38% last year) and 28% are people of color (up from 25% last year). This includes 11% Black/African American executives (up from 10% last year), 6% Hispanic/Latine executives (up from 5% last year), 10% Asian executives (up from 9% last year), and 2% executives who are two or more races (up from 1% last year).  

• Promotions. A higher percentage of promoted employees at Index companies were women this year – 57% compared to 54% last year. A higher percentage of promotions went to people of color as well – 47% compared to 43% last year. This includes 15% Black/African American (up from 12% last year), 16% Hispanic/Latine (up from 14% last year), 11% Asian (down from 12% last year), and 4% from other underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (same as last year). 

• Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leadership. More Index companies are offering extra pay or incentives to ERG leaders – 60% this year compared to 53% last year.  

• Auditing HR processes. Auditing HR processes to address implicit bias continues to be a best practice with 93% of index companies auditing HR processes, up from 92% last year. Among these companies, more companies are auditing their onboarding process – 78% this year compared to 66% last year.

Inclusion Index Workforce Composition  

The 2024 Inclusion Index employ about 2.8 million people at 36,964 work sites in every state across 19 industries: chemical, consumer products, education, financial or property and casualty insurance, financial services, health insurance, hospitality, hospitals/health care, legal, manufacturing, media, internet, advertising, nonprofit/not-for-profit, pharmaceuticals, professional services/management consulting/accounting, real estate, retail and apparel, science/technology/engineering/ aerospace/medical devices, telecommunications, and utilities.

Methodology 

The Inclusion Index includes 537 questions and provides organizations with the metrics needed to understand trends and opportunities in demographic representation, creates a road map to drive internal change, and identifies diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) solutions to close any gaps. Organizations provided data and were measured in three key areas: best practices in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of people from underrepresented groups—women, racial/ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people; inclusive company culture; and demographic diversity. This year, 160 organizations applied to participate in Seramount’s 2024 Inclusion Index. Twenty-nine of those listed on the 2024 Inclusion Index are recognized for superior achievement as Pinnacle Inclusion Index companies, which is defined as those receiving a score of 80 percent or higher. Forty-two of those listed on the 2024 Inclusion Index received a score of 70 percent or higher, qualifying as a Leading Inclusion Index company. Completed applications were collected online from December 2023 through March 2024. Results reveal opportunities for all organizations to target their diversity and inclusion efforts for greater effectiveness.

How To Apply

The online application for the 2025 Inclusion Index will be available in December 2024 and is due for submission in March 2025, as part of the Seramount Annual Application. We invite applications from private or public companies in any industry, with the exception of government agencies. Companies must have at least 500 U.S. employees.