Dive Brief:
- In a new report on the lack of women in federal public safety jobs, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offered tips for encouraging more female applicants. Agencies should begin outreach at the grade-school level; increase visibility of women recruiters; use one-stop, one-day hiring processes; and use social media, among other things, the commission said in Recruitment And Hiring Gender Disparity In Public Safety Occupations.
- EEOC said it was prompted by three issues: several class action suits alleging sex discrimination in public safety; recent congressional hearings on sex-based discrimination; and the intention of several federal law enforcement agencies to increase hiring.
- The commission also said it examined data from 14 government agencies and found that female representation does not exceed 20% in any eligible occupation other than Park Ranger. Of the 10 job titles examined, five showed less than 10% representation.
Dive Insight:
Federal agencies aren't alone in their struggle to improve diversity. Across the country, giants in the tech industry like like Microsoft are being charged with gender discrimination. Although the problem isn’t just in tech, and women aren't the only targets of unfair hiring practices, gender equality continues to elude a number of workplaces.
As experts have previously recommended, EEOC's instructions aim to help employers start with a diverse candidate slate. The agency also notes that individual biases — both candidates' and hiring managers' — could be affecting numbers. In response, employers may want to consider rebranding efforts and the targeted outreach recommended by EEOC to reach candidates, as well as training for hiring mangers.