African Americans in the Workforce: New Report Examines Changing Demographics

EEOCThe United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has published a new report on the status of women and minorities in the U.S. workforce. The report examines progress by African Americans in nine job categories between 1966 and 2013.

Among the key findings in the EEOC report are:

  • In 1966, African-American were less than 1 percent of all “officials and managers” in the U.S. workforce. Today the figure is 6.8 percent.
  • In 1966, Blacks were 1.3 percent of all professional workers in the United States. By 2013, the figure had risen to 7.6 percent.
  • In 1966, Blacks were 2.4 percent of all sales workers. This increased to 14.1 percent in 2013.
  • In 1966, African-Americans were 4.1 percent  percent of all workers classified as “technicians” Today the figure is 13.3 percent.
  • In 1966, Black were 21.1 percent of all “laborers.” In 2013, Blacks were 18.7 percent of all laborers.
  • In both 1966 and 2013, Blacks were about 23 percent of all “service workers.”
  • In 2014, African Americans filed 25,482 complaints of racial discrimination with the EEOC.

The report, American Experiences Versus American Expectations, can be viewed here.

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