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workforce. The use indices become progressively worse in

the remaining regions reflecting both the poor representation and inequitable distribution of black professionals. Half the regions have a use index below .65. p. 24).

(Chart 3,

Time-series analysis of underutilization/

A further perspective of the underutilization of blacks can be gained from examining their status over a period of time. Nationwide, the trend has been for the segment which blacks comprise of the professional workforce to have increased markedly, but their distribution across GS grades has not improved significantly.

Since September, 1965 the

percent of blacks in the professional workforce has increased from 8 percent to the present 14 percent. This growth occurred relatively evenly over all grades GS 5-15. For example, the proportion which blacks comprise of all GS-15's rose from 2.4 percent in 1965 to 8.3 percent in 1971 while the segment of professional GS-5's comprised by blacks increased from 15 to 45 percent. As the result of roughly

9/The data used in this section were taken from old computer printouts which are available in the EEO office. The analysis considers only professionals and excludes professionals in grades 6, 8 and 10.

comparable gains in the proportion of black professionals

for grades GS 5-15 and the lack of a significant increase

in their representation among supergrades, the average

salary of black professionals did not register a significant gain over 1965-1971. The average salary of black profes

sionals was 85 percent of that for all professionals in

1965 compared to 88 percent in 1971.10/

(Chart 6, p. 29 ).

The Nationwide trend in the status of black profes

sionals over 1965-1971 prevailed in the National Office and the Field. There was a somewhat larger gain in the representation of black professionals in the Field.

The average

salary of black professionals compared to all professionals in the Field increased sharply between 1968 and 1969 only to drop again between 1969 and 1970. This rise and fall appears to have resulted from a decline in the number of black GS-5 professionals in 1969.

Overall, the difference

in the salary of black and all professionals was smaller
in the Field compared to the National Office in 1965 and
this pattern has been maintained over time.
pp. 243-46).

(Tables 2-5

10/

This includes professionals in grades GS-6, 8, and 10.

Chart 6. PERCENT BLACKS COMPRISE OF PROFESSIONALS IN DOL,

[blocks in formation]

Source: Tables 2-5 pp.243-246.

If the trend since 1965 in the employment of black

professionals continues, the under-representation of blacks among professionals in the Field will improve measurably. In contrast, no such improvement could be expected concerning the inequitable distribution of blacks in professional positions.

At the rate given by the trend since 1968

(which is the time period over which the salary difference between black, and all professionals has decreased most markedly) it would still take well over a decade for blacks 11/ to gain an equitable distribution.

b. Status of nonblack minorities

Department-wide underutilization

The representation of the nonblack minorities in the Department's professional workforce, 3.1 percent, is far below their goal of 8.0 percent. The under-representation of these employees is especially acute in the National Office where they comprise only 0.9 percent of the professional staff. In the Field, 5.2 percent of all professionals

are nonblack minorities.

(Chart 7, p. 31 ).

11/The historical data used in this section are not

available for nonblack minorities or women.

Chart 7. PERCENT OF PROFESSIONALS IN EACH GRADE LEVEL
WHO ARE NONBLACK MINORITIES, MARCH 31, 1971

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