The Global Community Liaison Office routinely collects family member employment statistics from over 200 overseas posts. These statistics show the number of adult family members employed inside a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas, as well as those working on the local economy of their host country. The statistics also indicate the number of adult family members at post.
This report was reformatted for accessibility in May 2023.
Worldwide Family Member Employment Overview, Fall 2021 (data covering 04/2021 to 10/2021 with 232 updated posts, 98% of posts reporting) “Adult Family Members” are associated with the US Department of State, the other Foreign Affairs Agencies, as well as all other government agencies operating under Chief of Mission authority.
The adult family member overseas population totaled 11,840.
Males accounted for 25% of the population with 3,002 individuals reported.
Females accounted for 75% of the population with 8,838 individuals reported.
| Report | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Spring FAMER | 12,154 | 12,159 | 12,249 | 11,974 |
| Fall FAMER | 11,982 | 11,722 | 11,756 | 11,840 |
| Working Inside the Mission | 2,900 | 24% |
| Working Outside the Mission | 1,861 | 16% |
| Not Employed | 7,079 | 60% |
| Report | Number of EFMs | Percentage |
| Bureau | Family Members at Post | Working Inside % | Working Outside % | Total Family Members Working % |
| African Affairs (AF) | 1,491 | 33% | 16% | 50% |
| East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP) | 2,251 | 21% | 15% | 36% |
| European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR) | 3,721 | 20% | 17% | 37% |
| Near Eastern Affairs (NEA)1 | 1,299 | 31% | 14% | 45% |
| South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA)2 | 504 | 42% | 15% | 58% |
| Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) | 2,574 | 22% | 15% | 37% |
| Total and Average | 11,840 | 24% | 16% | 40% |
1 Two NEA Special Incentive Posts (SIP) account for 1% of NEA Inside the Mission positions.
2 Two SCA Special Incentive Posts (SIP) account for 3% of SCA Inside the Mission positions.
Note: includes filled and pending positions; includes full-time, part-time, and intermittent work schedules.
| Report | AF | EAP | EUR | NEA | SCA | WHA |
| 2018 Fall | 536 | 527 | 691 | 365 | 256 | 587 |
| 2019 Fall | 545 | 559 | 756 | 391 | 267 | 636 |
| 2020 Fall | 513 | 513 | 718 | 393 | 257 | 624 |
| 2021 Fall | 498 | 481 | 737 | 398 | 214 | 572 |
Note: includes filled and pending positions; includes full-time, part-time, and intermittent work schedules.
| Report | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Spring FAMER | 2,602 | 3,143 | 3,289 | 3,076 |
| Fall FAMER | 2,962 | 3,154 | 3,018 | 2,893 |
| Category | Number of EFMs | Percentage of EFMs |
| Telework | 549 | 30% |
| Other Field | 474 | 25% |
| Home Business and Freelance | 388 | 21% |
| Education | 269 | 14% |
| DETO | 181 | 10% |
| Total | 2,042 | 100% |
Other Fields Defined
| Field | Number of EFMs | % of EFMs |
| Commute to U.S. | 14 | 1% |
| International Org/PVO/NGO | 96 | 5% |
| Law | 18 | 1% |
| Local Economy | 168 | 9% |
| Medical | 27 | 1% |
| Military | 18 | 1% |
| Other Diplomatic Mission | 6 | <1% |
| Recreation Association | 52 | 3% |
| U.S. Government – DC | 75 | 4% |
| Total | 474 | 25% |
