EEOC Proposes End to Employer Demographic Reporting Requirement

Why it matters locally: The proposed change by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) could alter how private sector employers in Alaska, including those in key industries such as oil and gas, tourism, and fishing, report workforce demographic data. This shift might affect the state's ability to monitor employment trends and identify potential discrimination patterns within its diverse workforce.

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WASHINGTON – The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is moving to eliminate a 60-year-old requirement. This mandate directs tens of thousands of private sector employers to submit annual workforce demographic reports. The EEOC enforces anti-discrimination laws in the workplace. This proposed change would discontinue a long-standing practice. Employers currently provide data on the race, gender, and ethnicity of their employees. The agency has used this information for six decades to monitor employment trends and identify potential discrimination patterns.