Guidance on Collecting and Disclosing Human Capital Data

Disclosure and transparency are fundamental to effective corporate governance and entrenched in IFC’s Corporate Governance Methodology. It builds trust, fosters accountability, and enables informed decision-making by shareholders and stakeholders.

Disclosing workforce demographics, supportive practices, and employee experience can improve access to capital, align with global goals like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and strengthen environmental, social and governance ratings. Investors, rating agencies and regulators increasingly expect companies to disclose human capital data—while upholding ethics and legal standards.

This Technical Note by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, offers guidance to companies on improving their human capital data disclosures as part of corporate reporting.

The note explores:

• Why Disclose Human Capital Data
• Defining Human Capital Data
• Steps Before Collecting Human Capital Data
• Human Capital Data: What to collect
• Human Capital Data in Standards, Frameworks, and Indexes
• How to Collect Human Capital Data
• Where to Report Human Capital Data  

Drawing from IFC standards, global frameworks, and examples from companies across industries and regions, this note provides a practical and principled approach for companies operating in emerging markets and beyond.

Related Links:

• Beyond the Balance Sheet
• Corporate Governance Methodology
• Gender Equality Disclosure Metrics: Analysis and recommendations for reducing inconsistencies
• Gender Equality Metrics: Analysis of stock exchange guidance
• Women on Boards and in Business Leadership