Hispanics remained the most underrepresented in federal jobs in 2011, the Washington Post reported. Hispanics made up 8.1 percent of the federal workforce, compared with 13.6 percent in the overall workforce, a gap that has been consistent for years, according to data the government released Friday June 22nd. In 2002, 6.9 percent of the federal workforce was Hispanic compared with 12.2 percent of the overall workforce, and in 2007 the figures were 7.8 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively.
“In comparison with the overall workforce, the federal workforce is slightly more male and slightly less white: The federal workforce is 43.6 percent female and 65.9 percent white, compared with 46 and 70 percent respectively in the overall workforce,” says The Washington Post.
The report notes that the government has several initiatives under way to promote hiring, retention and advancement of Hispanics as well as programs for recruiting students and recent graduates.
On December 31, 2011, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) renewed the Hispanic Council on Federal Employment (Council) to advise on the recruitment, hiring, retention, and advancement of Hispanics in the Federal workplace. The Council has developed and will monitor implementation of concrete strategies to better engage the Hispanic community and create a more inclusive atmosphere to retain and develop Hispanic Federal employees once they are onboard.
