Affirmative Action in Federal Employment: Good Intentions Run Amuck?

Abstract

This study examines the impact of affirmative action programs on federal employment to determine if equality of opportunity has been achieved across the various occupational categories and management, professional and supervisory positions. The study differs from most studies of EEO in that it utilizes the five-percent Public Use Microdata Sample from the 2000 Census rather than the database normally used by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The findings suggest that after 40 years of intensive affirmative action efforts the federal government continues to employ a disproportionate number of minority group members than would be expected from their representation in the labor force. The disparity in employment of various minority group members is surprisingly large, suggesting that good intentions may have only intensified discrimination in federal employment for some minority employees.