Following is a summary of a recent OPM report on the demographics of the federal workforce.
Starting in 2011, OPM has requested that executive departments and agencies (agencies) develop and implement a more comprehensive, integrated, and strategic focus on diversity and inclusion as a key component of their human resources strategies.
Creating a diverse Federal workforce that draws from all segments of society requires sustained commitment to providing a level playing field upon which applicants and employees may compete for opportunities within government. Sustaining the highest levels of integrity and professionalism through new outreach and recruiting efforts is important to achieving the strategic vision set out in the Diversity and Inclusion Plan.
Agencies also were asked to identify and adopt best practices to promote diversity and inclusion and to identify and remove any barriers to equal employment opportunity, consistent with merit system principles and applicable law. To this end, agencies also submitted their successful or promising practices from the agency-specific Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plans. This report highlights many of those successful/promising practices.
Major findings in the FY 2016 FEORP Report:
* The percentage of minorities in the Federal workforce increased by 0.6 percentage points to 36.4 percent in FY 2016 from 35.8 percent in FY 2015, which exceeds the percentage of the Civilian Labor Force that is comprised by minorities (33.0 percent).
* The Federal workforce is 18.4 percent Black, 8.6 percent Hispanic, 5.8 percent Asian, 0.5 percent Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 1.6 percent American Indian/Alaska Native, 1.4 percent Non-Hispanic Multiracial, and 63.6 percent White. Minorities as a whole constituted 36.4 percent of the Federal workforce.
* Black employees represent 18.4 percent (359,757) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, compared to 18.2 percent in FY 2015.
* Hispanic employees represent 8.6 percent (168,543) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, compared to 8.5 percent in FY 2015.
* Asian employees represent 5.8 percent (113,173) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, compared to 5.7 percent in FY 2015.
* Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander employees represent 0.5 percent (9,448) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, the same as in FY 2015.
* American Indian/Alaska Native employees represent 1.6 percent (31,467) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, the same as in FY 2015.
* Non-Hispanic Multiracial employees represent 1.4 percent (27,985) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, compared to 1.3 percent in FY 2015.
* White employees represent 63.6 percent (1,240,145) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, compared to 64.2 percent in FY 2015.
* Women comprise 43.2 percent (843,358) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, compared to 43.1 percent in FY 2015.
* Men comprise 56.8 percent (1,107,160) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 30, 2016, compared to 56.9 percent in FY 2015.
* The percentage of minorities in the Senior Executive Service (SES) remained the same in FY 2016 as it was in FY 2015 at 21.2%. The SES is 11.0 percent Black, 4.6 percent Hispanic, 3.5 percent Asian, 0.2 percent Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 1.1 percent American Indian/Alaska Native, and 0.8 percent Non-Hispanic Multiracial.
* The percentage of women in the Senior Executive Service (SES) increased by 1 percentage point from 34.3 percent in FY 2015 to 35.3 percent in FY 2016.
