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 the way it talks about how it is making progress on inclusion. Microsoft says it is moving away from the data-heavy documents that stakeholders are used to and toward “more dynamic and accessible” formats like stories and videos to show off its work.
Industry watchers question the shift in Microsoft 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 show “inclusion in action” through content that is more interesting.
But this choice comes with a clear change in the company’s regulatory language. Microsoft took the word “diversity” out of two important reports to shareholders this year. They had used the word in the past. 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 had detailed charts on demographics, pay comparisons between different employee groups, and information on employees who left the company. It showed that 31.6% of Microsoft’s employees around the world were women.
Microsoft isn’t the only company that is pulling back. WIRED says that Google and Meta have also stopped making their yearly diversity reports. This trend is happening at the same time as a bigger 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 gave significant numbers to keep track of progress, hold leaders accountable, and push for change. It’s harder to figure out how recent layoffs and changes in internal policies have affected the makeup of 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.
