EEOC ISSUES FEDERAL WORK FORCE REPORT FOR 2007

Federal Complaints and Processing Times Down; Government Diversity Improves

WASHINGTON – Naomi C. Earp, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), today released the Annual Report on the Federal Work Force for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, covering October 2006 through September 2007.  The comprehensive report, which informs and advises the President and the Congress on the state of equal employment opportunity (EEO) government-wide, is available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov/federal/fsp2007/index.html.

The report shows that in FY 2007, federal employees and applicants filed 16,363 complaints alleging employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability and reprisal – down from 16,723 complaints in FY 2006 and 18,000 complaints in FY 2005. Agencies also reduced the average processing time for conducting investigations from 186 days in FY 2006 to 176 days in FY 2007, the best investigation times reported in the last 14 years. Additionally, the average processing time for closing complaints was 355 days, a decrease from the 367 days in FY 2006. Of the 7,673 cases closed on the merits, 2.8% resulted in findings of unlawful discrimination. In addition, the parties entered into settlements in 3,262 complaints, or 20.6% of the total complaint closures.

"As a former EEO Director, I have a particular interest in the Federal EEO Complaint System. It is my goal to improve the quality and efficiency of the Federal Sector process, and help to make the federal government a model workplace. I look forward to seeing continued improvement in work force diversity and complaint processing," EEOC Chair Naomi Earp said.

Over the last 10 years, there have been subtle changes in the composition of the federal work force. Overall, the representation of women, Hispanic or Latinos, African Americans, and Asians has slightly increased, however, the number of people with targeted disabilities continues to decline.  The EEOC, through its LEAD Initiative (Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities), is reaching out to agencies with enhanced technical assistance and guidance to increase the population of individuals with disabilities employed by the federal government. 

The EEOC monitors federal agency compliance with equal employment opportunity laws and procedures.  Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.