Philadelphia, PA, July 21, 2026 —

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has initiated a move to discontinue a 60-year-old mandate requiring tens of thousands of private sector employers to submit annual workforce demographic reports, known as EEO-1 forms.

The Republican majority on the EEOC voted in favor of rescinding this data collection. Commissioners supporting the change stated their belief that the reporting requirement could inadvertently foster discrimination and stereotyping.

However, this proposed change faces opposition from various groups. Former Democratic commissioners and civil rights organizations have voiced concerns, arguing that the EEO-1 data is essential. They contend that this information is vital for identifying patterns of discrimination that may affect women and minority groups. Furthermore, they assert that the data plays a critical role in directing the EEOC’s enforcement priorities.

The EEO-1 report collects data on job categories, ethnic origin, race, and sex of employees. For decades, it has served as a primary tool for the EEOC and employers to track workforce diversity and identify potential disparities.

The proposal to end the collection of this demographic data marks a significant shift in the agency’s approach to monitoring employment practices. The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws that prohibit discrimination in employment.

Further details regarding the timeline for the proposed rescission and the specific arguments presented by both sides of the vote were not immediately available.



Story summarized from the original created by ALEXANDRA OLSON and CLAIRE SAVAGE on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.

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