Human Capital Exiting Capitol Hill? Differences in Congressional Staff Turnover by Race and Gender

Abstract

Congress relies heavily on congressional staff to function and, as such, members have raised alarms about staff departures and their impact on the institution's capacity. We examine patterns of congressional staff exit to understand the severity of this problem. We document differences in departure rates among staff from certain demographic groups, as staff diversity shapes substantive representation. Using comprehensive congressional staffing employment data over the past two decades, we show turnover rates vary by race and gender, with minorities more likely to exit their positions and women, despite being less likely to be promoted, more likely to stay. Lastly, while overall turnover rates are high, we find that staff with higher education and committee experience (whose departures are more likely to affect brain drain) are more likely to remain in Congress. These results hold important implications for ongoing policy reforms and for descriptive representation in congressional policymaking.