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This year's review began an annual process for establishing executive-level pay based on a more rational and equitable system than had been possible earlier.

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT: A VIEW OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY - MARCH 1991

Executive Summary

The Smithsonian's staff composition, exhibitions, public programs, research and outreach activities are periodically reviewed and reported. This sixth semi-annual report of equal opportunity activities and accomplishments covers the period September 22, 1990 to March 23, 1991. Most of the statistical comparisons, however, cover the preceding year (March 10, 1990 - March 23, 1991).

Between March 1990 and March 1991, a period of very modest growth, these data show that the Smithsonian work force has undergone almost imperceptible change in terms of its overall composition. In March 1991, a total of 6,490 men and women were employed at the Smithsonian, a minor increase (0.45%) from September 1990, when a total of 6,461 men and women were employed and a total increase of 2.6% from 6,325 in March 1990.

In September 1989 two-fifths (40.5%) of the total work force was comprised of minority group members; a total of 2,540 employees. In March 1991 a somewhat larger percentage (41.3%) was minority; a total of 2,679. The percentage increase in minority representation in the past year (March 1990 to March 1991) was greater than the change in the overall labor force (6.6% compared to 2.6%) leading to proportionately more minorities overall. This results from the number of Caucasians (3811) remaining the same and the number of minorities increasing (from 2514 to 2679). Among the net increases of 165 employees, the percent of Caucasian males and females balance each other; i.e., a decrease of 7.3% men and an increase of 7.3% women. All of the net employment gains are among minority men and women -- 52.7% were minority women and 47.3% were minority men. Thus, while the turnover in personnel in the past year tended to maintain the previous distributions, the net increase was clearly in the direction of greater representation for members of minority racial/ethnic groups and especially minority women.

The percentage increase in the representation of women in the past year was also slightly greater than the change in the overall labor force (3.4% compared to 2.6%), leading to proportionately more women overall. An examination of both minority proportion and gender indicates that these proportions changed by less than 1% in the past year. Minority men increased to 22.7% of the total from 22.0% of the total and minority women increased to 18.6% from 17.7%. Conversely, nonminority men and women decreased (from 31.3% to 30.4% for men and from 28.9% to 28.4% for women).

Other discernible changes indicate limited but real progress in changing the demographic profile of the Smithsonian ranks. Among the senior staff (Grade 16+ or equivalent), since September 1990, an African American female was named as Under Secretary, a nonminority female as Assistant Secretary for Finance and Administration, and a nonminority female as Director, Office of Human Resources. Each of these three women replaced men, two of whom were