EEOC records show retaliation is the most common basis for charges, accounting for 44.1% of all EEOC charges in FY 2023, a figure that helps explain why so many cases persist even after a complaint is made. At the same time, age discrimination is far from niche with 18.5% of EEOC age charges tied to workers 55 and over, who face four times the layoff rates. Taken together, these statistics reveal patterns that reach beyond intent into everyday hiring, pay, and job security.
Key Takeaways
- FY 2023 age charges: 18.5% of EEOC total
- Workers over 55 face 4x layoff rates
- 64% of older workers see age bias
- FY 2023 disability charges: 37.0% of total EEOC
- EEOC FY 2022 disability charges: 30,168 with $224.8M benefits
- 25% of disabled adults unemployed vs 5% non-disabled
- In FY 2023, sex discrimination charges were 24.5% of EEOC total
- Women earn 84 cents for every dollar men earn in 2023
- 42% of women report gender discrimination at work
- National origin charges FY 2023: 7.9%
- Retaliation charges: 44.1% of all EEOC in FY 2023
- Religion charges: 2.3% in FY 2022
- In FY 2023, race discrimination charges made up 32.6% of all EEOC charges
- Black workers face 2.5 times higher unemployment rate than white workers as of 2023
- 36% of Black employees report experiencing discrimination at work
Age and disability discrimination are widespread, with older and disabled workers facing higher bias and layoffs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age Discrimination20 stats
01
FY 2023 age charges: 18.5% of EEOC total
02
Workers over 55 face 4x layoff rates
03
64% of older workers see age bias
04
EEOC FY 2022 age charges: 14,235 with $50.2M benefits
05
Unemployment for 55+: 5.9% vs 3.4% overall 2023
06
FY 2021 age charges: 15,542
07
Older workers 2x less likely recalled post-layoff
08
90% of employers prefer younger hires
09
FY 2020 age charges: 14,183
10
Age 50+ workers earn 11% less when switching jobs
11
EEOC age suits: 15 in FY 2023
12
FY 2019 age charges: 15,573
13
75% of older workers train younger colleagues without promotion
14
FY 2018 age charges: 15,294
15
Mandatory retirement affects 20% of professions
16
FY 2017 age charges: 18,376
17
Over-40 workers 50% less job search success
18
EEOC ADEA recoveries: $40M in FY 2022
19
FY 2016 age charges: 20,857
20
55% of 50+ report ageist comments
Interpretation
Age Discrimination Interpretation
Despite the steady drumbeat of age discrimination charges and sobering data showing older workers are four times more likely to be laid off, twice as unlikely to be recalled, and earn significantly less when starting over, it seems many employers still view valuable experience as a liability rather than an asset.
02 · Category
Disability Discrimination20 stats
01
FY 2023 disability charges: 37.0% of total EEOC
02
EEOC FY 2022 disability charges: 30,168 with $224.8M benefits
03
25% of disabled adults unemployed vs 5% non-disabled
04
61% of disabled workers report discrimination
05
FY 2021 disability charges: 37,100
06
Mental health conditions in 35% of ADA charges
07
Disabled workers earn 25% less
08
FY 2020 disability charges: 35,907
09
19% of accommodations denied
10
EEOC disability lawsuits: 140 in FY 2023
11
FY 2019 disability charges: 26,302
12
Autism employment rate: 14%
13
FY 2018 disability charges: 26,838
14
70% of disabled face hiring bias
15
FY 2017 disability charges: 25,957
16
Chronic illness workers 2x layoff risk
17
EEOC ADA settlements: $100M+ annually
18
FY 2016 disability charges: 25,240
19
Blind workers unemployment 70%
20
40% of epilepsy workers hide condition
Interpretation
Disability Discrimination Interpretation
Despite accounting for over a third of all EEOC charges and securing hundreds of millions in remedies, the relentless data—from a 70% unemployment rate for blind workers to double the layoff risk for the chronically ill—paints a damning portrait of a workplace culture that still treats disability as an inconvenient asterisk rather than a core dimension of human talent.
03 · Category
Gender Discrimination24 stats
01
In FY 2023, sex discrimination charges were 24.5% of EEOC total
02
Women earn 84 cents for every dollar men earn in 2023
03
42% of women report gender discrimination at work
04
EEOC FY 2022 sex charges: 20,354 with $85.6M benefits
05
76% of sexual harassment charges filed by women
06
LGBTQ workers 30% more likely to be harassed
07
FY 2021 sex charges: 22,251
08
Gender pay gap widest for mothers: 75 cents
09
50% of women in STEM leave due to bias
10
EEOC pregnancy discrimination charges up 20% in 2023
11
Transgender workers face 2x unemployment rate
12
FY 2020 sex charges: 21,398
13
35% of men report reverse discrimination claims
14
Equal Pay Act charges: 980 in FY 2023
15
Women 47% less likely promoted to manager
16
FY 2019 sex charges: 25,119
17
25% of LGBTQ report termination due to identity
18
FY 2018 sex charges: 25,785
19
Gender bias in performance reviews: women 1.4x more negative feedback
20
FY 2017 sex charges: 25,110
21
60% of women experience sexual harassment
22
EEOC sex merits suits: 88 in FY 2023
23
FY 2016 sex charges: 25,860
24
Bisexual employees 1.5x higher bullying rates
Interpretation
Gender Discrimination Interpretation
The statistics paint a depressingly consistent portrait of a workplace that, despite decades of litigation and supposed progress, still operates like a broken vending machine for gender equality: it takes more money, makes a lot of noise, and still often fails to deliver the product.
More related reading
04 · Category
Other Discrimination22 stats
01
National origin charges FY 2023: 7.9%
02
Retaliation charges: 44.1% of all EEOC in FY 2023
03
Religion charges: 2.3% in FY 2022
04
Muslim workers 2.6x more discrimination claims post-9/11
05
FY 2021 national origin charges: 6,211
06
24% of immigrants report accent discrimination
07
EEOC religion charges FY 2023: 2,008
08
Retaliation recoveries: $300M+ in FY 2022
09
FY 2020 religion charges: 2,404
10
15% of Jewish workers face antisemitism at work
11
National origin suits: 20 in FY 2023
12
FY 2019 religion charges: 2,725
13
35% retaliation after filing internal complaints
14
FY 2018 national origin charges: 6,758
15
Sikh turban accommodations denied in 20% cases
16
Genetic info charges: 220 in FY 2023
17
FY 2017 religion charges: 3,027
18
28% of whistleblowers face retaliation
19
FY 2016 national origin charges: 7,243
20
Hindu workers report 40% higher bias
21
EEOC total charges FY 2023: 81,055
22
Retaliation most common basis for charges over 20 years
Interpretation
Other Discrimination Interpretation
The data reveals a workplace paradox where reporting discrimination is far more likely to invite retaliation than to resolve it, suggesting that in many cases, the system punishes the whistleblower more reliably than it addresses the original offense.
05 · Category
Racial Discrimination30 stats
01
In FY 2023, race discrimination charges made up 32.6% of all EEOC charges
02
Black workers face 2.5 times higher unemployment rate than white workers as of 2023
03
36% of Black employees report experiencing discrimination at work
04
In 2022, EEOC resolved 22,064 race charges with $128.5 million in benefits
05
Hispanic workers have a 50% higher layoff rate during recessions
06
45% of Asian American workers report workplace discrimination
07
EEOC FY 2021 race charges: 23,896 total
08
Native American unemployment rate is 2x national average
09
28% of Black women report race-based promotion denials
10
Audit studies show resumes with Black names get 50% fewer callbacks
11
FY 2020 race charges: 24,432
12
Color discrimination charges: 3.2% of total in FY 2022
13
41% of Latinos report discrimination in hiring
14
EEOC race lawsuits filed: 105 in FY 2023
15
Black men 2x more likely to be passed over for raises
16
FY 2019 race charges: 26,124
17
30% of multiracial workers face bias
18
Resume studies: African American names 14% fewer callbacks
19
FY 2018 race charges: 28,528
20
52% of Black professionals report microaggressions
21
Hispanic wage gap: 17% less than whites
22
FY 2017 race charges: 34,364
23
Asian workers 2x more likely to experience accent bias
24
EEOC color charges FY 2023: 2,985
25
25% of Black employees quit due to discrimination
26
FY 2016 race charges: 32,548
27
Native Hawaiian unemployment 10.1% vs 3.7% national
28
40% of South Asian workers report bias
29
EEOC race merits suits: 12 in FY 2022
30
Black-white hiring gap persists at 36%
Interpretation
Racial Discrimination Interpretation
The sobering parade of statistics reveals that the American workplace remains a stage where racial equity is still waiting in the wings, performing a tragic comedy of 'equal opportunity' that too often ends with the same cast getting the callback.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Employment Discrimination Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/employment-discrimination-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Employment Discrimination Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/employment-discrimination-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Employment Discrimination Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/employment-discrimination-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level