In 2020, an estimated 17 percent of the region's workers identified as Asian-Pacific Islander, 16 percent as Hispanic, 12 percent as Black, and 51 percent as White. Thirty-five percent immigrated from another country. Just over half of workers (53 percent) were male, and 47 percent were female. About 11 percent of NOVA workers who completed the Census’s household pulse survey in 2021 identified as LGBTQ+.

Despite this tremendous diversity, we know that economic power has not been distributed evenly across the region. For example, while about half of workers in the region identify as White...

• 67 percent of businesses with paid staff are under White ownership (see our report on minority-owned businesses here)
• 66 percent of managers in Northern Virginia are White; 40 percent are White men (2015-19 ACS)
• 69 percent of workers who earn more than $150,000 per year are White; 50 percent are White men (ACS 2020)

In addition, participating organizations will be recognized with a Champions for Accountability badge. The badge recognizes employers within the Greater Washington Region that have taken the first step toward corporate diversity: they are willing to collect, share, and act on data about the demographic composition of their owners, senior staff, and boards. Badge holders will be recognized in a public directory of companies that have received the Champions for Accountability badge; those under diverse ownership-leadership will be acknowledged in a second directory of businesses with diverse leadership in the Greater Washington Region.