Microsoft was the best tech company for a long time at being open about its business and making information about its employees available. That time has come to an end. The company has said that it will not publish a Microsoft diversity report in 2025. This is the last report in a series that began in 2015.
This change shows that the big tech company is changing how it talks about its progress on inclusion. Microsoft says it is moving away from the data-heavy documents stakeholders are used to and toward “more dynamic and accessible” formats, such as stories and videos, to showcase its work.
Industry watchers question the shift in Microsoft’s diversity reporting
Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s head of communications, said, “We’re not doing a traditional report this year because we’ve moved on from that.” He stressed that the company’s dedication to its values and culture has not changed. This new method aims to demonstrate “inclusion in action” through more engaging content.
But this choice entails a clear shift in the company’s regulatory language. Microsoft removed the word “diversity” from two important shareholder reports this year. They had used the word before. Some people are now wondering if the company is making its diversity and inclusion work less visible.
Microsoft released a full 44-page document in October 2024, which preceded the never-published diversity report. People praised that report as the company’s “most global and transparent report to date.” It included detailed charts on demographics, pay comparisons across employee groups, and information on employees who left the company. It showed that 31.6% of Microsoft’s employees worldwide were women.
Microsoft isn’t the only company that is pulling back. WIRED reports that Google and Meta have also stopped publishing their annual diversity reports. This trend is happening alongside a larger shift in the business world. The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance says that many companies are now improving their DEI language and disclosures to lower their legal and reputational risks.
These yearly reports were very important to activists and workers. They assigned significant numbers to track progress, hold leaders accountable, and push for change. It’s harder to determine how recent layoffs and changes in internal policies have affected the workforce without the 2025 Microsoft diversity report.
Microsoft maintains its commitment, yet the discontinuation of its regular Microsoft diversity report creates a void. The company’s future videos and stories may give a new view on inclusion, but they probably won’t be able to replace the clear, data-driven openness that used to be its trademark.
