Why the US may stop collecting workplace race and gender data

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has voted 2-1 to advance a proposal that would end a long-standing annual workforce demographic reporting requirement. The rule, known as the EEO-1 report, requires covered employers to submit aggregate data on the race and gender makeup of their workers. After Tuesday’s vote, the proposal enters a 30-day public comment period before a hearing scheduled for August 11.

The EEOC, created in 1965 to enforce federal workplace anti-discrimination laws, uses demographic data alongside its investigations into alleged discrimination. Al Jazeera reported that the annual reports cover employers representing about 50 million workers and do not name individual employees. Acting chair Andrea Lucas, part of the commission’s Republican majority, argued that the requirement conflicts with Title VII’s principle of colourblind employment practices and said the reports impose an estimated $275m in annual employer costs, plus about $4m in EEOC administrative costs.

Critics cited by Al Jazeera said the rollback would weaken the government’s ability to spot patterns and guide enforcement. Sharon Block of Harvard Law School’s Centre for Labour and a Just Economy said the reports offer a workforce snapshot rather than directing hiring decisions. EEO Leaders, a group of former EEOC officials, warned that ending the data collection would reduce information used to assess complaints, target outreach and identify possible barriers.

The debate comes amid broader Trump administration moves against diversity, equity and inclusion policies and affirmative action-related requirements for federal contractors. The EEOC says it could still request demographic data during specific investigations, while opponents note that information may be harder to obtain if employers no longer routinely compile it.