Workplace discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has soared to an unprecedented level of 95,402 during Fiscal Year 2008 ending Sept. 30, 2008, the federal agency reports. This is a 15 percent increase from the previous fiscal year in discrimination complaints, the EEOC says.

According to the FY 2008 data, all major categories of private sector charge filings increased. Charges based on age and retaliation saw the largest annual increases, while allegations based on race, sex and retaliation continued as the most frequently filed charges. The surge in charge filings may be due to multiple factors, including economic conditions, increased diversity and demographic shifts in the labor force, employees’ greater awareness of the law, EEOC’s focus on systemic litigation, and changes to EEOC’s intake practices, the agency says.