Data Quality

Reliable data is essential for understanding and managing the federal workforce. For EHRI, delivering high-quality data means balancing multiple priorities, ensuring users have access to useful and accurate information in a timely manner. We’ve designed our data ingestion process to support this balance from the start, using automated validation checks to flag potential issues and generating regular data quality reports to help agencies improve their submissions.

Ultimately, each federal agency is responsible for the quality of its federal workforce data. By sharing data validation results and completeness metrics publicly through EHRI, we aim to promote transparency, highlight known limitations, and support continuous improvement for federal HR data across government.

Data quality dimensions

Data completeness

OPM releases EHRI data on a regular monthly schedule and works closely with data providers to support the timely submission of files. Providers are expected to submit their data within five business days after the end of each month. This allows roughly a month for OPM to validate the data, work with agencies to resolve any issues, and prepare the data for publication.

However, for various reasons, some providers may not be able to submit their files on time. In those cases, OPM still publishes available data on schedule, and any late submissions are included in future releases. The chart below shows the percentage of files received each month, offering insight into submission trends and helping users identify where data may be missing or delayed for specific datasets or time periods.

Missing EHRI files

Data validation checks

Each EHRI file submitted by providers undergoes a series of automated data validation checks. These checks include both basic data validation—such as confirming correct file formats and required fields—and policy-based rules that ensure the data aligns with federal HR standards, like using valid personnel action codes or appropriate pay plans. Providers receive automated reports detailing any errors found during this process.

The table below highlights the results of data validation checks on the EHRI data elements considered most critical for analysis. Critical data elements with an error rate greater than 3% are included, offering important context and an understanding of any data limitations for users reviewing data on FWD.

EHRI data validation checks by agency