Diversity in the Federal Government's Workforce

Critical Analysis

1. More than 1.5 million people work in the federal government. A new Office of Personnel Management report reveals the racial and gender representation of the workers in the federal government. According to the data from the visual above, what portion of the U.S. population is White?

2. According to the data from the visual above, what portion of the federal government workforce is White?

3. This is especially true at the senior level. According to the data from the visual above, what race/ethnicity is the most underrepresented in the federal government workforce?

4. Based on the visual below*, how does racial representation change at the senior level?

5. Why do you think that the federal government workforce is not representative of the American population?

6. What is one negative consequence of this misrepresentation?

7. The Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) is basically the HR department and personnel policy manager for the US government. The federal government is working to address the needs of underserved communities, including people of color, LGBTQI+ individuals, parents and pregnant individuals, religious minorities, and first-generation students, among others. Make a claim about whether the federal government should reflect the people it serves.

8. The visual below*, shows male over representation in federal government workers. Why do you males are over represented in the federal government?

9. Predict how your state government workforce compares demographically to the federal government workforce.

10. This data from the visuals above comes from a new Office of Personnel Management report. The report is a result of President Joe Biden’s Executive Order EO 14035, which tasked the office with creating a data-driven approach to promote diversity and inclusion in the federal workforce. Identify two things Congress can do to address the diversity of federal agencies and departments.

Learning Extension

This cool new USAFACTS report is about to be made into a movie by Disney. Check it out now!!!!!

Action Extension

Contact the White House and let them know what you think about the diversity of the federal workforce.

Visual Extension*