Board-Diversity Disclosures Top 80% Among Biggest U.S. Employers

Under pressure from investors, stock exchanges and state governments, a growing number of the U.S.’s largest companies are releasing diversity data about their boards.

More than 80% of the country’s 100-largest employers now report the racial and ethnic composition of their boards of directors or board nominees, advocacy group JUST Capital said in statement on Thursday. Two years ago, that figure stood at just 45%. The foundation cited Starbucks Corp., Verizon Communications Inc. and Target Corp. among the companies leading the way in board diversity.

The rise in companies reporting the data reflects a shift in attitudes, and also new rules requiring more ...