DOD Civilian Workforce: Actions Needed to Analyze and Eliminate Barriers to Diversity
Fast Facts
The Department of Defense civilian workforce doesn't reflect the diversity of the federal government. DOD has lower percentages of women and members of historically disadvantaged racial or ethnic groups—such as African Americans.
DOD has been working to identify potential barriers to diversity, but little has changed over the last 10 years. This may be because it is unclear which DOD office is responsible for overseeing such efforts.
To better track DOD's progress with eliminating barriers to workforce diversity, we recommended that it clearly identify which office is responsible for oversight.
We updated the Fast Facts to clarify that our analysis reflects DOD's workforce as compared to the rest of the federal government and not the nation.
Representation of Women at DOD and in the Total Federal Civilian Workforce, FYs 2012-2018
Highlights
What GAO Found
Over the 10 years of Department of Defense (DOD) data GAO analyzed, the representation of women and of employees from historically disadvantaged racial or ethnic groups (historically disadvantaged groups) in DOD's civilian workforce generally remained unchanged and below total federal civilian workforce levels. Overall, from fiscal year 2012 through fiscal year 2021, the proportion of women decreased slightly, from 33.0 to 32.1 percent, but increased slightly for historically disadvantaged groups, from 31.0 to 32.6 percent. GAO also analyzed the General Schedule (GS) workforce and found that women and historically disadvantaged groups remained less represented at upper GS grades and the executive level.
Demographic Representation in the DOD Civilian Workforce: Changes from Fiscal Year (FY) 2012–2021 and in General Schedule (GS) Grades and Senior Executive Service in FY 2021
Note: Data reflect percentage-point change in the military departments and other DOD components from FY 2012 to 2021 (left) and percentages in FY 2021 (right). Historically disadvantaged groups include Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and two or more races.
Promotion outcomes were generally lower for historically disadvantaged groups than for White employees, and varied for women relative to men, based on GAO analysis of DOD data. For example, when controlling for factors such as occupation and education level, historically disadvantaged groups—particularly Black or African American employees—were less likely to be promoted in nearly all grades at or above GS-7. This analysis does not completely explain reasons for different promotion outcomes or establish causal relationships but can provide agencies additional insight.
DOD has developed policies and plans to manage department-wide diversity, and it has taken steps to identify potential barriers to diversity and equal employment opportunity (EEO) in the military departments and other DOD components. However, GAO found that little has changed in terms of demographic representation. DOD has developed mechanisms to improve department-wide data analysis, but does not have clear policies for collecting barrier-related data, which may limit their utility. Unclear oversight roles and measures for tracking DOD progress to eliminating barriers—a top DOD and federal priority—may also hinder meaningful progress overcoming disparities in representation and promotion outcomes. Without additional actions, DOD lacks reasonable assurance its many efforts will effectively contribute to achieving its goals.
Why GAO Did This Study
DOD employs over 700,000 federal civilians—over one-third of the total federal civilian workforce—and recognizes the importance of a diverse workforce to achieve its critical missions. However, DOD has faced challenges ensuring its workforce reflects the diversity of the nation it serves.
House Report 116-617, accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, includes a provision for GAO to examine diversity in the DOD federal civilian workforce. This report analyzes (1) the demographic composition of the DOD civilian workforce by gender and racial or ethnic group; (2) promotion outcomes among these demographic groups; and (3) the extent to which DOD has developed policies and plans to identify any barriers and track progress eliminating them.
GAO analyzed DOD data for appropriated-fund civilian employees in the three military departments and across the other DOD components from fiscal year 2012 through fiscal year 2021 and conducted a multivariate regression analysis of promotions by gender and racial or ethnic group. GAO also analyzed DOD diversity and EEO policies, strategic plans, and federal standards to analyze barriers and track progress.
Recommendations
GAO recommends that DOD (1) update policies to ensure it collects barrier-related data, (2) assign clear oversight roles, and (3) establish measures to track progress in eliminating barriers. DOD concurred with these recommendations.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness updates relevant civilian workforce diversity and EEO policies to (1) explain how DOD's data-analysis mechanisms relate to department efforts to identify barriers, and (2) communicate the standard barrier-related information the military departments and DOD components should submit to ODEI. (Recommendation 1) |
DOD concurred with this recommendation, and in November 2023 stated that the department is revising DOD Instruction 1020.05, "DOD Diversity and Inclusion Management Program," and DOD Directive 1440.1, "The DOD Civilian Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program," to update its policies, programs, and procedures. DOD intends these revisions to better position the department to effectively identify, track, and use data to mitigate barriers that impact workforce diversity and uphold its commitment to ensure diversity, equitability, inclusion, and accessibility for all applicants including civilian and military employees. DOD anticipates these actions to be completed by November 30, 2024. When we confirm the actions DOD has taken we will provide updated information.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness assigns, in relevant policies or plans, clear DOD oversight roles for tracking DOD progress towards eliminating barriers to diversity and EEO. (Recommendation 2) |
DOD concurred with this recommendation, and in November 2023 stated that the department is revising three relevant policies to assign clear roles and responsibilities. DOD plans to update the oversight roles and responsibilities in 1) DOD Instruction 1020.02E, "Diversity Management and Equal Employment Opportunity in the DOD," 2) DOD Instruction 1020.05, "DOD Diversity and Inclusion Management Program," and 3) DOD Directive 1440.1, "The DOD Civilian Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program." DOD anticipates these actions to be completed by November 30, 2024. When we confirm the actions DOD has taken we will provide updated information.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness establishes, in relevant policies or plans, measures for tracking DOD progress towards eliminating barriers to diversity and EEO. (Recommendation 3) |
DOD concurred with this recommendation, and in November 2023 stated that the department is revising DOD Instruction 1020.05, "DOD Diversity and Inclusion Management Program," and DOD Directive 1440.1, "The DOD Civilian Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program," to update its policies, programs, and procedures. DOD intends these revisions to better position the department to effectively identify, track, and use data to mitigate barriers that impact workforce diversity and leverage this data to inform the development of its relevant strategic plans. DOD anticipates these actions to be completed by November 30, 2024. When we confirm the actions DOD has taken we will provide updated information.
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