State Department Releases First Demographic Baseline Report

The U.S. State Department’s diversity and inclusion office released its first-ever demographic baseline report on June 23, drawing on two years of data. 

The report, which is set to be released annually henceforth “provides a bureau-by-bureau description of the department’s workforce data—broken down by race, ethnicity, sex, disability, grade/rank, and job series/skill codes for its employees”

“The data allows the department to assess whether its workforce reflects the rich diversity of our nation,” said the department. “The data is also used to examine if there are potential anomalies that may be indicative of a barrier to equal employment opportunity.” said the State Department.

The State Department was questioned by a reporter on the data’s suggestion on religious diversity in its workforce, particularly on the controversial question of Jews and race. “This is a great question,” said Robb Dooling, a public diplomacy detailee at the department’s diversity and inclusion office to JNS.

“As of now, the current data only covers race, ethnicity, sex, disability, and those then broken down by grade/rank, and job series/skill codes,” said Mr. Dooling. “We focused initial data studies on these categories because they are the categories with statutorily-mandated reporting requirements per the 1964 Civil Rights Act.”

“We are looking for ways to expand future data studies beyond that, but face human as well as financial resource constraints,” said a representative of Foggy Bottom’s diversity and inclusion office to JNS.

Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate

Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Virginia Van Zandt