SF-181 Ethnicity and Race Identification
Standard Form 181 is a short, voluntary form federal employees use to self-identify ethnicity and race. Agencies use the aggregated data for workforce statistics and reporting.
This is the genuine OPM PDF, unmodified. Source: OPM official page.
What is SF-181?
SF-181, Ethnicity and Race Identification, collects an employee's self-identified ethnicity and race using the standard federal categories. Agencies use the information in summary form for workforce statistics and civil rights reporting, not for decisions about any individual employee.
Providing the information is voluntary. If an employee chooses not to self-identify, the employing agency is permitted to identify the information based on observation, which is why agencies encourage employees to complete the form themselves during onboarding.
Who files SF-181?
- New federal employees completing onboarding paperwork
- Current employees updating or correcting their self-identification on file
- Agency HR offices collecting the data required for federal workforce reporting
How to fill out SF-181
- Fill in your name and the agency and employment information requested at the top of the form.
- Answer the ethnicity question, then select one or more of the race categories that apply to you.
- Skip nothing you intend to answer; the form is short and there are no narrative sections.
- Return the form to your HR office with your onboarding packet or as directed. It stays within your agency's records systems.
Quick fill SF-181 on this page
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to complete the SF-181?
No, self-identification is voluntary. If you decline, your agency may record ethnicity and race based on observation, so completing the form yourself keeps the record accurate.
Is this information used in hiring or promotion decisions?
No. The data is used in aggregate for workforce statistics and equal employment opportunity reporting. It is not part of individual personnel decisions.