• 29,920 alleged race discrimination (up 3.5% from Fiscal Year 2001)
• 25,536 alleged sex/gender discrimination (up 1.6% from FY 2001)
• 22,768 alleged retaliation (up 2% from FY 2001)
• 19,921 alleged age discrimination (up 14.5% from FY 2001)
• 15,964 alleged disability discrimination (down 3% from FY 2001)
• 9,046 alleged national origin discrimination (up 13% from FY 2001)
• 2, 572 alleged religious discrimination (up 21% from FY 2001)
• 1,256 alleged Equal Pay Act violations (unchanged from FY 2001)

In addition to the filing statistics, the EEOC also reports that the average time for the agency to process a private sector claim dropped 6% to 171 days. Claims pending investigation also decreased to 29,041 claims, a decrease of 11%. Cari Dominguez, Chair of the EEOC, stated “We are operating at the most efficient levels in the Commission’s history to eradicate employment discrimination. We are resolving charges faster and more proficiently, while simultaneously enhancing public outreach and education to proactively prevent discrimination.”

Other statistics offered involved the emphasis the EEOC placed on public outreach and mediation processes that have led to is considered a successful year. The agency conducted 4,000 outreach, education and technical assistance events to promote voluntary compliance, an increase of 24% from 2001. Furthermore, with the mediation program, the EEOC was able to resolve a record-high 7,858 charges in 82 days, significantly down from the 171 days involved in the administrative process. Dominguez shared “Voluntary mediation continues to play a vital role in resolving charges in an expeditious and non-adversarial manner to the benefit of all parties. We plan to build upon our mediation success in the current fiscal year and in the years to come.”