Diversity workforce analysis has been conducted in order to see where we are not equally represented across the six major protected characteristics groups.
Workforce diversity statistics
Our workforce information has been prepared in accordance with our responsibilities under The Equality Act 2010, and refers to those aspects of equality that relate to our employees, and the impact of our policies and processes on identified protected characteristics groups. 
The Government Equalities Office guidance recommends a “light touch approach” to gathering and analysing evidence.
The documents containing our workforce information can be downloaded below. We have reported only aspects where data is reliably available and of sufficient quality to provide robust analysis.
Staff Profile
In total, the Environment Agency’s current profile contains 11,915 staff. Grades 4 and 5 comprise the majority of Environment Agency staff with 52% of staff between them. Only 1.2% of staff is in the highest grade group (Executive Managers).
Age
The largest age group is 30-35 year (17%). This has been the case for the last three years.
The age groups with grade profiles most similar to the overall Environment Agency grade profiles are 46-50 and 51-55. The highest grade attained within the under 25 age group is grade 5, this is a small proportion of under 25’s (4.2%). This increases to approximately 25% of 26-30 age group attaining higher grade posts, with grade 7 currently the highest grade occupied (this is a tiny proportion of the age group with only 3 individuals).
The largest group of under 25’s are in Grade 3 posts and the largest group within the over 66’s is Grade 2.
Disability
Disabled staff members currently make up only 7% of Environment Agency staff, compared with 24% of the general population . Only 51% of Environment Agency staff has declared their disability status, therefore the information is not complete enough to analyse the grade breakdown. This is the first year that more than 50% of staff have declared their disability status, therefore there is no trend analysis.
The top 3 disability types that have been declared are; Chronic / long term health condition (2%), Mobility difficulties (1%) and Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (1%).
Gender
The Environment Agency’s workforce comprises a higher proportion of men (59%) than women (41%); this does not reflect the general population which is the other way around.
There are more men (60%) than women (40%) in high grades, this is particularly the case with gender breakdown for Executive Managers grade which is approximately 70:30 Men:Women. There are more men (96%) than women (4%) in non-staff grades; these grades include Operations Delivery Manual Staff, Nuclear, Non-Standard and Graduate Trainees.
The age profile is slightly older for men than for women. Up to 20 years service the gender split is roughly balanced however there are approximately 50% more men with over 20 years service than women.
Gender Identity
As only 43% of staff have declared their gender identity, there is not enough information to draw any conclusions.
Race/Ethnicity
Staff from BAME groups only comprises approximately 3.5% of Environment Agency staff; this is lower than the general population where BAME ethnic groups represent 13% of the general population. The BAME proportion of staff has remained stable for the last three years. A list of the ethnic groups included in the BAME definition is provided in the “Information about the data” section.
The largest grade groups for BAME staff are grade 4 (29%) and grade 5 (25%); this is the same as the overall grade profile for the Environment Agency. The age profile is slightly younger for BAME staff than non BAME staff.
Religion
Only 47% of Environment Agency staff has declared their religion, therefore the information is not complete enough to analyse the religious breakdown. The top 3 religions that have been declared are; Christian (23.5%), No belief (20%) and Other (3%)
Sexual Orientation
As only 49% of staff have declared their sexual orientation, there is not enough information to draw any conclusions.
Working pattern
Approximately 12% of staff have a part time working pattern. 3% of men and 26% of women work part time. The age group with the highest part time working pattern is the 36-40 year olds (25%).
Less than 50% have declared if they are working flexibly. This is not enough information to draw any conclusions.
Previous statistics
Information about the data
All percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
Grades
Due to the range of specialist staff required by the Environment Agency, there are a number of different grading structures used as well as the standard staff grades of 1-7 and Executive Management. For example Nuclear staff and Operations Delivery staff each have their own grading structure. For the purposes of this exercise all staff in these departments are shown as one grade each. For the purposes of this exercise the grades have also been grouped into lower (grades 1-4) and higher (grades 5-EM).
A breakdown of the characteristics’ data by grade has been provided where there is at least 50% of the data is valid.
Glossary:
EM – Executive Manager
