Obama Makes Diversity Top Priority for Federal Government

by: Michael Collins, Research and Publications Analyst, Diversity Best Practices

In an effort to increase diversity in the federal government, the Obama Administration is prepping an executive order that would provide guidance for programs geared toward recruitment and career development for underrepresented minorities. According to The Washington Post, the measure would mirror the Executive Order on the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government that Obama delivered in November 2009.

With women holding 29 percent of senior positions in the federal government, African Americans accounting for 7 percent and Latinos just 3 percent, the need for greater outreach and employee engagement is apparent. Plus, the lack of employee resource organizations that represent the interests of employees of color underscores that need for presidential measures.

Source: “Obama Plans Government Workplace Diversity Effort,” by Joe Davidson, Washington Post, December 15, 2010.

 

This article was featured in the December 22, 2010 issue of Diversity Best Practices’ email newsletter, Diversity in the News. To subscribe to Diversity in the Newsregister on the newsletter page of this website.