Researchers, advocates rail against government’s efforts to end workforce data collection

A recent public hearing held by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on June 18, 2025, sparked a heated debate over the agency's annual collection of workplace demographic data. The hearing, attended by 22 speakers, lasted over two hours and was dominated by civil rights groups and researchers who urged the EEOC to maintain the practice.

They argued that a proposal to abolish the requirement for private sector employers to submit annual workforce demographic reports would hinder efforts to combat discrimination.

The proposal, currently under review for a 30-day public commentary period ending on August 24, was championed by the Trump administration, which maintains that collecting such data burdens companies and encourages discriminatory practices aimed at boosting workforce diversity. Six speakers at the hearing supported the proposal, aligning themselves with the administration's stance.

Established in 1966, the EEOC has mandated that companies with 100 or more employees, or federal contractors with 50 or more workers, submit an annual report known as the EEO-1. This report provides a breakdown of gender and racial representation across various job roles, from executives to laborers and service workers. The Republican-led EEOC voted 2-1 in favor of discontinuing the data collection, contending that the reporting requirement may incentivize employers to employ discriminatory tactics.

Civil rights groups vehemently opposed the proposal, asserting that the data has been instrumental in exposing systemic discrimination in the workplace and monitoring the advancement of women and minorities since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.