Minority Representation in Senior Positions in US Federal Agencies: A Paradox of Underrepresentation

U.S. federal agency workforces are typically believed to epitomize equal opportunity and diversity. Yet, an analysis of employment data reveals that minorities are still underrepresented in senior government positions. The percentage of minority senior federal employees do not match the percentages of minorities in the general population or at lower levels of the civil service. Various programs can be adopted to ensure that diversity is embraced and that steps are taken to increase the representation of minorities across all levels of federal agency employment.