For nearly 60 years, through 10 administrations both Republican and Democrat, the federal government required companies with at least 100 workers to report details on their employees' demographics, including gender, race and ethnicity.

The resulting data provided a consistent, annual window into how the workplace landscape — from the executive suites and front offices to service workers and technicians — shifted over time and where it wasn't changing enough. At times, it tracked pay disparities, too. And it consistently provided information that assisted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which collected the data, in its investigations and assessments of complaints and potential discrimination.

Like so many federal data sources we've relied upon for decades, it showcased the nation's gains and its shortcomings, and provided experts, elected officials and policymakers with insights to make good decisions and establish appropriate regulations and........

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