The report shows that, in fiscal year 2022, minority groups held 25.5% of senior officer roles at the SEC — such as directors, associate directors and deputy directors. This is more than a 6 percentage point increase from fiscal year 2021.
The percentage of women in such roles decreased slightly to 44.3% from 45.8% in fiscal year 2021; however, representation for women in senior officer roles is still higher at the SEC compared to the federal workforce overall, in which women hold 37.7% of senior executive roles, the report states.
Overall, 35.9% of SEC staff identify as minority groups and 46.1% identify as women. Minority representation for SEC staff has slightly increased from 35.3% in fiscal year 2021, while representation for women has slightly decreased from 46.2%.
In fiscal year 2022, contract payments to minority- and women-owned businesses, or MWOBs, reached $202.6 million, an increase from $182.6 million in fiscal year 2021, according to the report. Contract awards to MWOBS also rose to $233.5 million, up from $226.9 million.
OMWI also launched an internal website in fiscal year 2022 about monthly vendor outreach days, which the agency offers so businesses can learn about the SEC's contracting needs, present their businesses capabilities and ask questions about procurement. Forty-six businesses participated, 33 of which were MWOBs.
The SEC has historically struggled with collecting diversity data from the companies it regulates, which it has asked for on a voluntary basis. The diversity self-assessment in 2020 garnered a 9% response rate, up from 5% in 2018. Results from the 2022 assessment have yet to be released.
