Equity In Government
A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Toolkit
Recruitment
Recruitment in Washington State
Despite Executive Order 11478, and the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, calling for equal opportunity in federal employment, and a “federal workforce reflective of the nation’s diversity,” racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Hispanics, are significantly underrepresented in the federal government (Executive Order 11478, (1966-1970); Civil Service Reform Act of 1978; Starks, 2009). This underrepresentation extends to state and local government jobs, and also has a significant impact on immigrants (Lewis, Lui, and Edwards, 2014; Rice, 2004).
In addition to general underrepresentation, racial and ethnic minorities are also found to be underrepresented in leadership and senior level positions, both when considering the rates of employment at lower levels and by the population of communities at large (Starks, 2009). Women also face difficulty achieving upward mobility in local, state, and federal government. This results in an over-representation of women in lower level jobs, and underrepresentation in management and leadership positions (Rice, 2004).
Departments and agencies can address this issue by creating and implementing equitable hiring policies and practices. Recruitment is a first and crucial step, where many applicants first encounter an organization’s culture and decide whether or not to apply. However, job seekers coming from the low-wage sector often do not have the privilege of making a choice about whether or not to apply for a job based on factors like organizational culture. However, by instilling equitable practices you will make individuals feel that their skills and background are valued and welcome in your organization.