Annual Probability of Filing a Workplace Discrimination Charge
~1 in 2,000
Annual probability in US
About 81,000 workplace discrimination charges are filed with the EEOC each year, representing about 0.05% of the workforce.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received approximately 81,000 charges of workplace discrimination in fiscal year 2023. Given a civilian workforce of about 160 million, this represents roughly 1 in 2,000 workers filing a formal discrimination charge each year. However, this significantly understates the actual prevalence of workplace discrimination, as most incidents go unreported.
The most common bases for charges include retaliation (55.8% of all charges), disability (37.2%), race (33.7%), sex (29.5%), age (21.0%), national origin (9.3%), color (6.0%), and religion (4.2%). Many charges allege multiple bases. Harassment charges (including sexual harassment) continue to represent a significant portion of EEOC filings.
Of resolved charges, only about 15-17% result in outcomes favorable to the charging party (settlement, withdrawal with benefits, or successful conciliation). The EEOC recovers about $500 million or more annually for victims through litigation, mediation, and settlements. Employers with strong anti-discrimination policies, regular training, accessible complaint mechanisms, and cultures of accountability face significantly fewer charges.
Use This in a Decision
Plug this probability into our expected value calculator to make a data-driven decision.
Start a Decision