EEOC Charge Statistics: FY 1997 to FY 2022

The total number of charges represents the count of individual filings, reflecting instances where individuals have reported workplace discrimination. Since many file claims cite multiple forms of discrimination, the annual total of charges will always be lower than the combined count of the ten types of discrimination tracked.

These data are sourced from the Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics, drawing on quarterly reconciled Data Summary Reports and the EEOC's Charge Data System. Starting in FY 2004, the information was compiled using the EEOC's Integrated Mission System. The statistics exclude cases filed with state or local Fair Employment Practices Agencies.

Between FY 1997 and FY 2022, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recorded significant fluctuations in workplace discrimination charges. The number of annual charges varied greatly, ranging from a peak of 99,922 in FY 2010 to a low of 61,331 in FY 2021, reflecting notable shifts.

Key Discrimination Bases (FY 2022):

• Race Discrimination: Present in 28.6% of filings, showing a consistent decline from its previously dominant share.

• Sex Discrimination: Representing 27%, this category has also gradually decreased in prominence over time.

• National Origin: Mentioned in 7.5% of cases, reflecting a slight downward trend.

• Religious Discrimination: Cited in 18.8% of charges, a notable rise compared to earlier years.

• Color Discrimination: Accounted for 5.6%, with modest growth over the reporting period.

• Retaliation (all statutes): The leading basis for charges in FY 2022, involved in 51.6% of cases.

• Age Discrimination: Declined over time, appearing in 15.6% of filings by FY 2022.

• Disability Discrimination: On a steady upward trajectory, it reached 34% in FY 2022.

• Equal Pay Act Violations: A smaller proportion, comprising roughly 1.3% of cases.

• Genetic Information (GINA): The least reported, making up only 0.6% of total charges.

These insights shed light on long-term trends in workplace discrimination, highlighting evolving priorities and patterns in the most frequently reported issues.

From FY 1997 to FY 2022, the EEOC recorded fluctuating workplace discrimination charges, ranging between 61,331 and 99,922 annually. Retaliation consistently ranked as the most common complaint, followed by race, sex, and disability discrimination. While some categories, like race and sex, saw declines, others, such as disability and retaliation, steadily grew.