You can't fix what you can't see: Why eliminating workplace ...

Without detailed demographic data, occupational segregation and systemic barriers remain invisible. And what remains invisible cannot be addressed. This is precisely why EEO-1 data is irreplaceable. Analyzing if Black workers are in specific job categories like executive, managerial and other senior leadership roles is critical and provides a broader assessment of representation beyond employment. EEO-1 is one of the few sources that shows whether people of color are underrepresented at the management and leadership level — not just in the workforce overall. According to EEO-1 data submitted by large employers, workers of color make up more than 40 percent of the workforce but hold only one in five executive or senior-level positions. In 2023, Black women and men remained underrepresented in senior roles. The gap between who is employed and who is advancing is an example of the workforce opportunity gap that exists for Black workers in America. Joint Center Senior Fellow Eric Morrissette wrote, "the Civil Rights Act does not require proving that someone is personally racist. It requires proving that a policy creates measurable, disproportionate harm." Without the requirement for employers to file an annual report detailing workforce demographic data, including data by job category and sex and race or ethnicity, fewer measurable patterns of discrimination or occupational segregation can be identified. This data collection serves as a crucial part of civil rights infrastructure as it provides essential evidence to enforce civil rights law. For over 55 years, the Joint Center has believed that data is the precondition for justice. At a moment when Black workers face such acute vulnerability, stripping away the tools to identify occupational segregation and measure discrimination is unconscionable. We urge the EEOC to withdraw the proposed rule to rescind requirements for filing EEO demographic data collection reports, including the EEO-1 form. Reliable economic workforce data helps researchers, policymakers, advocates and industry leaders evaluate if our workforce systems are delivering on the promise of equal opportunity. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the AFRO.