The federal workforce is undergoing a significant transformation, and now, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is shedding light on the details. A recent data overhaul has revealed a decade-low staffing level, with over 300,000 federal employees lost last year alone. But here's where it gets controversial: the Trump administration's orders to end collective bargaining have led to a significant shift in the federal workforce's union representation, dropping from 56% to 38%.
The OPM's new federal workforce data website (https://data.opm.gov/explore-data/analytics/workforce-size-and-composition) aims to provide faster, more transparent, and more frequent updates compared to its predecessor, FedScope. This major step forward for accountability and data-driven decision-making across the government is a result of years of modernization efforts. Users can now filter data by geographic location, agency, age, education level, bargaining unit status, and more.
However, the new platform doesn't include information on race and ethnicity across the federal workforce due to Trump's executive order to eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) across the government. This has sparked a thought-provoking question: how will the federal workforce evolve in the coming years, and what impact will this have on its diversity and inclusivity?
The OPM's new platform also reaffirms the significant reshaping the federal workforce has experienced over the last year. With a net loss of nearly 220,000 federal employees since January 2025, the governmentwide staffing levels are at a decade-low. This has led to a 75% decrease in telework hours between January and October 2025, due to Trump's on-site requirements for the federal workforce. But here's where it gets interesting: the OPM's new data platform shows that the share of the federal workforce represented by unions has dropped significantly, impacting virtually all executive branch agencies.
In conclusion, the OPM's new data overhaul has revealed a significant transformation in the federal workforce. While the data doesn't include information on race and ethnicity, it provides a comprehensive view of the workforce's size, composition, and evolution. As the federal workforce continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the OPM's new platform will adapt and provide insights into the future of the workforce.
