This section of the Program is designed for comparing one group's representation (i.e., the percentage of incumbents in a given position who belong to the gender or ethnic group) to that group's availability in the relevant labor market (using availability data from inside or outside the organization). This type of comparison is useful for determining whether a group is underutilized in a particular position, or group of positions.
This analysis should be differentiated from the "Selection Rate" comparison because (under most circumstances) a statistically significant underutilization does not automatically constitute a finding of adverse impact. The reason for this is straight-forward: a selection rate comparison directly evaluates how two groups fared on a particular employment practice, so if one group significantly outperforms the other, direct evidence is gathered regarding the impact of a particular employment practice on the group of interest. Then the attention can shift toward evaluating that particular employment practice for job relatedness (i.e., validity).
By contrast, the Availability Comparison does not (necessarily) consider the impact of one employment practice. Because the comparison is an overall evaluation that considers one group's makeup in a given position compared to their availability outside of position, it does not consider all of the practices, procedures, or tests that may have been used to select or promote individuals for that position. Further, it does not take into consideration other factors such as "job interest" or qualification levels of the at-issue group. For example, if outside availability data shows that men are statistically significantly underutilized for a group of clerical jobs, the underutilization could possibly be explained by either lack of interest on the part of men to pursue these positions, or the fact that men performed poorly on the multitude of qualification screens required for entry into the position (or likely some combination of these two factors and others). For these reasons, the Availability Comparison should be considered as a "threshold" or "initial inquiry test."
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Footnotes:
(1) % Represented: This row indicates each group's representation as a percentage
of the total pool.
(2) Over/Under Represented: This row shows the group's representation compared to
their availability. Underutilization at any level is indicated using red cells.
Negative values show underutilization.
(3) Statistical Test Results (EXACT): This test uses the (two-tail) exact Binomial
Probability Test to assess whether the degree of underutilization is extreme enough
to be considered "beyond chance." Values less than .05 (in red) are "statistically
significant"; values between .05 and .10 (in orange) are "close" to significance.
Because this test compares one group's representation against their availability
(rather than comparing the selection rates of two groups, like the Statistical Test
on the "Selection Rate Comparison" page), statistically significant findings (without
other evidence) should not be considered as direct evidence of adverse impact (because
both discriminatory and non-discriminatory reasons can possibly account for the
group's underutilization).
(4) Statistical Test Results (ESTIMATED): This test uses an estimator technique
for the Binomial Probability Test that usually produces values that are similar
to the Exact Test (see note above). When the probability value output by this test
approaches .05, only the Exact Test should be used. Results from this test typically
overestimate the exact probability values.
(5) Interpretation of Statistical Test: These outputs describe the degree of the
Statistical Test findings. For example, if the output shows the likelihood of the
statistical test value is "1 in 20," this means that the group's underutilization
is so extreme that the odds of it occurring by chance is only 1 in 20, or about
5%. In other words, this result indicates that chance can be "ruled out" as a reason
for this difference. The "Probability as Std. Deviations" describes the probability
value (from the Statistical Test) in terms of standard deviations units, which are
sometimes easier to interpret than small probability values. A standard deviation
of 1.96 corresponds with a probability value of .05, and a likelihood of 1 chance
in 20.