Spotify drops Diversity Data Report, shows slow growth for ethnicity and gender balance

Following a two-year gap from their last report, the numbers are in from Spotify’s June internal survey.

Results show that, globally, women occupy 31.9% of leadership roles, a slight drop (1.6%) from the last report.

The number of women employed by the company has risen 3.8% to 38.7% since 2016.

Spotify’s board has 33% female representation, which is an increase of 33% from the last report.

Spotify admits that they have some “serious work to do” around female representation and increasing the number of female leaders in senior roles.

The company’s rapid growth from 300 employees in 2011 to over 3,000 in Q1 this year has generated an opportunity to evolve as an inclusive workplace.

“This is really just the beginning. Our grand plan for the future is to step up as a leader in this space,” reads the report.

Regarding the company’s racial landscape, Spotify’s US arm upped their Asian representation to 14.8%, their black representation to 6.1% and mixed race representation to 2.7% over two years.

White employees still hold the majority share of their workforce at 50%.

3% of their employees are living with a disability, 11% identify as LGBTIQ+ – only a 1% increase – and 25% are religious.  

A similar report for Spotify UK will be included in the next annual update.

The demographic data was gathered through a self-identification HR tool, and anonymous self-identification through an annual survey.

“… But we still have 14-20% blank or missing data (depending on the demographic category),” continues the report, “so improving the self-identification rates is one thing we will keep pushing for next year.”